Managing sensor detection in a vehicle's driver assistance system

Abstract

Method (500) in a computing unit (110) for identifying a systematically deviating sensor detection at a geographical position and notifying a driver assistance system (130) in a vehicle (100) with respect to the identified systematically deviating sensor detection, characterized by: receiving (501) a sensor detection associated with the geographical position from a vehicle sensor (120); comparing (502) the received (501) sensor detection with a sensor detection previously received at the same geographical position;Identifying (503) a systematic deviation from the geographic position associated sensor detections, comprising identifying the type of vehicle environment at the geographic position, the type of sensor detection and a plausibility assessment based on the probability that a given sensor detection is performed in a given type of vehicle environment, wherein the plausibility assessment includes mapping to a table containing set limits which reflect the probability that a given sensor detection occurs in that vehicle environment;the transmission (504) of a notification relating to the systematic deviation for sensor detections at the geographical position to the driver assistance system (130) in the vehicle (100) in order to activate a suppression of the systematically deviating sensor detection, wherein the comparison (502) comprises a comparison between the received sensor detection and previously received sensor detections obtained through a manually monitored sensor detection.

Description

Technical area of ​​the invention The invention relates to a method and a computing unit in a vehicle. More precisely, the invention describes a mechanism for systematically managing anomalous sensor readings that have been acquired at a specific geographical location. background A vehicle often has a driver assistance system which includes sensors such as radar, cameras and similar types of sensors that identify objects around the vehicle, such as road markings, signs, pedestrians and other surrounding vehicles. In this context, "vehicle" refers to, for example, a van, semi-trailer truck, transport vehicle, car, emergency vehicle, ship, bus, fire brigade motorcycle, amphibious vehicle, boat, airplane, helicopter or a similar manned or unmanned motorized means of transport adapted for geographical movement on land, at sea or in the air. These sensors are rarely perfect and can therefore produce false object detections or attribute incorrect properties to objects, for example, misinterpreting a traffic sign as a person. This can have devastating consequences if a driver assistance system in the vehicle makes an incorrect decision. For instance, such a false detection of a person on the road in front of the vehicle could cause the driver assistance system to initiate an unwanted emergency braking maneuver, which might be highly anticipated by the driver and other road users. Such measures are not only unpleasant for the driver, but can also cause accidents if surrounding road users are surprised by sudden and unexpected vehicle maneuvers. Furthermore, the vehicle's travel time can be extended, fuel consumption increased, and emissions can rise. Another safety hazard can arise if the driver becomes weary of the shortcomings of sensors and driver assistance systems and consistently deactivates or ignores them, which can pose a safety risk if a real, unexpected obstacle, such as a moose or other animal, suddenly appears in front of the vehicle. Another shortcoming of driving with existing driver assistance systems is that these systems react with warnings and / or corrective actions, for example, when crossing a lane marking on the road, even in cases where this is unavoidable because someone needs to be able to drive the vehicle on the relevant stretch of road due to, for example, roadworks, lane marking renewal, or similar reasons. The driver is thus unnecessarily subjected to warnings or corrective actions, which further reduces the driver's confidence in the driver assistance system. It is clear that there is still a great need to improve sensors and driver assistance systems in vehicles. US 2011 / 0 040 481 A1 and US 2004 / 0 153 244 A1 relate to collision warning systems for vehicles. DE 10 2010 054 214 A1 describes a method for assisting a driver in operating a motor vehicle. US 2013 / 0 101 157 A1 describes a method for detecting objects in a digital image. Brief description of the invention Consequently, one object of this invention is to improve the reliability of a driver assistance system in a vehicle in order to solve at least one of the problems described above and thus achieve a vehicle improvement. According to a first aspect of the invention, this problem is achieved by means of a method in a computing unit for identifying a systematically deviating sensor reading at a geographical location and notifying a driver assistance system in a vehicle with respect to the identified systematically deviating sensor reading. The method comprises receiving a sensor reading that is associated with the geographical location of a vehicle sensor. The method further comprises comparing the received sensor reading with sensor readings that were previously received at the same geographical location. A systematic deviation for the sensor readings associated with the geographical location is then identified.If such a systematic deviation is identified, a notification regarding the systematic deviation for sensor detections at the geographical location is sent to the driver assistance system in the vehicle in order to activate a suppression of the systematically deviating sensor detection. According to a second aspect of the invention, this problem is achieved by means of a computing unit configured to identify a systematically deviating sensor reading at a geographical location and also to notify a driver assistance system in a vehicle with respect to the identified systematically deviating sensor reading. The computing unit comprises a receiver circuit configured to receive a sensor reading associated with the geographical location. The computing unit also comprises a processor circuit configured to compare the received sensor reading with previously received sensor readings at the same geographical location and configured to identify a systematic deviation for the sensor readings associated with the geographical location.Furthermore, the computing unit also includes a transmission circuit designed to transmit a notification regarding the systematic deviation for sensor detections at the geographical position to the driver assistance system in the vehicle, in order to activate a suppression of the systematically deviating sensor detection. Collecting information about objects detected by at least one sensor and compiling the properties of these objects, such as their type, geographic location, size, etc., makes it possible to draw conclusions about the sensor detection of the object. Sensor detections that can be considered unlikely according to certain criteria, such as a moose standing still for an extended period in an urban environment, can very likely be classified as false positives. This information can be transmitted to vehicles approaching an identified false positive, and the driver assistance functions can take this into account and suppress a warning or intervention from the driver assistance system at that geographic location. In certain configurations, however, it is possible to use information to suppress warnings or actions when the vehicle crosses a lane marking on the road. Although the sensor detection of the lane marking itself is correct, conditions on that particular stretch of road may cause many vehicles to also cross the lane marking. This can be identified by studying accident statistics for locations with elevated warning rates. If elevated accident statistics are lacking for the relevant road segment, it can be concluded that the elevated warning rate is either a result of faulty lane marking detection or of vehicles that, for natural reasons, do not adhere to the lane markings on the road but do not pose a significant risk to themselves, e.g.,due to roadworks, unclear or improperly positioned lane markings, or the fact that vehicles often take a particular curve too far and thus cross a lane marking. Suppressing unnecessary warnings regarding lane departures and false detections makes it possible to achieve a driver assistance system that generates fewer erroneous or unnecessary warnings / interventions. This leads to greater road safety due to the predictability of vehicle behavior for the driver and other road users, as well as increased driver acceptance, less irritation, and a lower likelihood that the driver will ignore warnings from the driver assistance system or deactivate it. Thus, the vehicle is improved. Further advantages and additional new features will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention. List of characters The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures, which illustrate different embodiments of the invention: Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a vehicle according to one embodiment. Fig. 2A illustrates an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2B illustrates an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2C illustrates an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 5 shows a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 6 is an illustration of a computing unit according to one embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the invention The invention is defined as a method and a computing unit for identifying a systematically deviating sensor reading at a geographical location and notifying a driver assistance system in a vehicle with respect to the identified systematically deviating sensor reading, which can be implemented by any of the embodiments described below. However, this invention can also be implemented in many different forms and is not to be considered limited to the embodiments described in this document, which are instead intended to illustrate and explain different aspects of the invention. Additional aspects and features of the invention can be derived from the following detailed description when considered in combination with the accompanying figures. However, the figures are to be regarded only as examples of different embodiments of the invention and not as limiting the invention, which is exclusively limited by the attached claims. Furthermore, the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and, unless otherwise specifically indicated, are intended to conceptually illustrate aspects of the invention. Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 can, for example, be stationary, be prepared for a planned movement in a given direction of travel 105, be moving in the direction of travel 105, or be moving in the opposite direction, i.e., reversing. At least one sensor 120, designed to detect an object 125, is arranged on or in the vehicle 100. The sensor 120 can include, for example, a radar measuring device, a laser measuring device such as a Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR), sometimes called LADAR or laser radar, a camera such as a Time-of-Flight (ToF) camera, a stereo camera, a light field camera, a distance measuring device based on ultrasonic waves, or a similar device configured to determine distances. A lidar is an optical measuring instrument that measures properties of reflected light to determine the distance (and / or other properties) to a distant object 125. The technology is very similar to radar (radio detection and ranging), but uses light instead of radio waves. The distance to an object 125 is typically measured by measuring the time delay between an emitted laser pulse and the recorded reflection. A time-of-flight camera (ToF camera) is a camera system that takes a sequence of images and measures a distance to an object 125 based on the known speed of light by measuring the amount of time a light signal takes to travel between the camera and the object 125. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the vehicle 100 can include a plurality of sensors 120. These can be of the same type or of different types, depending on the embodiment. One advantage of having more than one Sensor 120 is that more reliable distance determination can be performed. The sensor 120 or sensors can advantageously be located on the inside of the vehicle, i.e., in the driver's cab, where they are better protected against external damage, theft, and damage caused by, for example, dirt, mud, and the like. This improves the reliability of the sensor 120 and extends its service life. Alternatively, the sensor 120 can be positioned high on the exterior of the vehicle, near the roof. This extends the sensor's range, meaning that objects 125 can be detected at a greater distance, thus giving the driver more time to brake or swerve if the object 125 is a person or animal that suddenly appears on the road. The object 125 can be any object, such as another vehicle, a building, a tree, a pedestrian, an animal, or the like. Whether the object 125 is in motion or stationary is irrelevant to the invention. The invention is also independent of whether the carrier vehicle 100 is stationary or in motion. By allowing the collection of information about objects 125 detected by at least one sensor 120, and about the properties of the objects, such as the type of object, its geographical position, size, etc., in a local (in the vehicle 100) or central data system, it is possible to draw conclusions about the detected objects 125. Objects 125 that can be considered unlikely, such as a moose standing still for an extended period in an urban environment, can very likely be classified as false alarms. This information can be transmitted to vehicles approaching an identified false alarm, and the driver assistance functions can take this into account and suppress warnings / actions of the driver assistance system at that geographical location. For example, a given traffic sign 125 might be detected as a pedestrian by sensor 120 in a vehicle 100, or by a large number of different vehicles traveling along a highway, over an extended period. Since a pedestrian will very rarely remain stationary along such a highway for a prolonged period, the system may conclude that this is a false positive and notify oncoming vehicles passing sign 125, thus preventing erroneous interventions or warnings from the driver assistance system. However, in certain designs, it is also possible to use information to suppress warnings and / or accident intervention measures when the vehicle crosses a lane marking on the road. Such a warning when crossing a lane marking is sometimes referred to as a "lane departure warning" (LDW warning). Sometimes, for example, when collected statistical data indicates locations with clearly elevated warning statistics, but without a corresponding increase in accident statistics, it can be concluded that the elevated warning statistics are either the result of faulty detection of road markings or of vehicles that, for a natural reason, do not adhere to the lane markings on the road, but nevertheless do not expose themselves to an increased danger. This could be attributed to, for example, roadworks, unclear or improperly placed lane markings, or the fact that vehicles quite often take a certain curve wide and thus cross a lane marking. Suppressing such unnecessary warnings due to lane changes or faulty detections allows for the provision of a driver assistance system that generates fewer faulty, superfluous, or unnecessary warnings / interventions, leading to greater driver acceptance, less irritation, and a lower likelihood that the driver will ignore warnings from the driver assistance system or deactivate it. The invention can be implemented in a variety of different forms; for example, sensor readings from a large number of vehicles can be compiled in a central database, and information about systematically deviating sensor readings at a given geographic location can be sent to vehicles approaching that location. Examples based on this embodiment are described in more detail in conjunction with the presentation in Figures 2A-2C. In certain embodiments, sensor detections are performed by one or a plurality of sensors 120 in a single vehicle 100, wherein the detections are stored and analyzed locally in a database in the vehicle and then used locally in the vehicle 100 the next time it approaches a specific geographical position where a systematically deviating sensor detection is encountered. Examples based on this embodiment are described in more detail in connection with the presentation in Fig. 3. In certain embodiments, sensor detection is performed by one or a plurality of sensors 120 in a vehicle 100, wherein the detections are stored and analyzed locally in a database in the vehicle, and if a systematically deviating sensor detection is encountered, then information about this is sent by short-range communication to one or a plurality of other nearby vehicles when the vehicle 100 next approaches the relevant geographic position. Examples based on this embodiment are explained in more detail in connection with the presentation in Fig. 4. Fig. 2A illustrates an embodiment of the invention. The sensor 120 in a first vehicle 100-1 detects an object 125, in this case a traffic sign. This sensor detection is transmitted via a wireless interface to a computing unit 110, which is centrally located or accessible to a multitude of vehicles. Examples include the vehicle manufacturer's supplier portal or another database accessible via the internet. The computing unit 110 can then perform calculations based on the collected sensor detections and detect systematic deviations, from which it can be concluded that sensor detections at a given geographical location may be faulty or should be suppressed for other reasons. This information can then be sent to all vehicles; to all vehicles connected to such a service, such as...subscribers; to vehicles positioned near the geographical location where the systematically deviating sensor detection occurs or to a given specific vehicle 100-2 in other embodiments. Fig. 2B represents an embodiment of the invention which is similar to that shown in Fig. 2A, but is shown from the perspective of a driver inside the first vehicle 100-1. Sensor 120 detects an object 125, in this case a traffic sign. Information received by the local driver assistance system 130-1, but interpreted as wildlife, can be displayed visually to the driver on a screen 135 in certain configurations. This information can then be transmitted via a transmitter 140-1 in the vehicle 100-1 to the processing unit 110 via a wireless interface. Depending on the specific design, such a wireless interface can be based on any of the following technologies: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Access (CDMA), (CDMA 2000), Time Division Synchronous CDMA (TD-SCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE); Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), as defined by standards 802.11 a, ac, b, g and / or n, Internet Protocol (IP), Bluetooth and / or Near Field Communication (NFC) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), or a similar communication technology. The sensor 120 and the driver assistance system 130-1 are arranged to communicate with each other, to receive signals and measured values, and to trigger a measurement, e.g., in a specific time interval. In certain embodiments, communication between the sensor 120, the driver assistance system 130-1, and / or the transmitter 140-1 can be carried out via the wireless interface. In other embodiments, this communication can be carried out via a wired interface comprising a communication bus system consisting of one or more communication buses for connecting a number of electronic control units (ECUs) to each other or control units / controllers and various components and sensors 120 located in the vehicle 100. The vehicle communication bus can consist of one or a multitude of cables, a data bus such as a CAN bus (Controller Area Network bus), a MOST bus (Media Oriented Systems Transport), or any other bus configuration. The processing unit 110 receives data collected by the sensor 120, as well as related information such as a geographic position. The geographic position for sensor detection can be determined, for example, by a satellite navigation system such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), Galileo, GLONASS, or similar, which may be located in the vehicle 100 or, for example, in the driver's mobile phone. Alternatively, the geographic position can also be determined by triangulating radio signals emitted by mobile phone base stations with known geographic locations, by means of sensor detection based on information from a vehicle odometer, and / or by manual input from the vehicle driver. The processing unit 110 analyzes the received sensor detection by comparing it with sensor detections previously received at the same geographic location to identify patterns that systematically deviate from expectations. Examples of when a systematic deviation from the expected pattern in sensor detections associated with a geographic location can be identified include when a stationary animal in an urban area is detected by a number of sensor detections exceeding a given, predetermined threshold, or when a certain percentage of all sensor detections exceeds a given threshold. Other examples might include sensor detections indicating a pedestrian standing still in the middle of a highway, a building positioned in the middle of a highway, and similar situations. For example, the analysis in computing unit 110 can include a mapping to a table containing limit values ​​that reflect the probability of a given sensor detection occurring. A non-exhaustive example is shown in Table 1. All cited limit values ​​are to be considered merely as arbitrary examples of limit values. Table 1 Urban environment Tier5 Motorway Stationary Person 30 Motorway building on carriageway 10 Another example of when a systematic deviation in sensor detection might be found is when a comparison between sensor signals generating a lane change warning at a given geographic location does not correlate with an increased frequency of accidents at that location. Table 2 N 57° 41' 48.34"E 11° 55' 12.4"57200.01 N 42° 36' 12.8"E 35° 22' 8.86"15350.1 N 63° 39' 12.5"E 45° 45' 75.27"3900.01 Another example of when a systematic deviation for sensor detections might be found is when a comparison between sensor signals received in the vehicle 100-1 differs from detections recorded by a reference sensor under manual monitoring for, e.g., massive objects surrounding a roadway, such as traffic signs, light poles, telephone poles, and similar objects 125. In this embodiment, it is also conceivable to input a limit value to avoid suppressing a warning indicating a pedestrian on the roadway standing in close proximity to, e.g., a traffic sign; see the non-limiting example in Table 3. N 57° 41'48.34"E 11° 55' 12.4"Traffic sign 5 Moose 5 N 42° 36' 12.8"E 35° 22' 8.86"Traffic signPedestrians50 N 63° 39' 12.5"E 45° 45' 75.27"Light mast tractors20 If a systematic deviation at a geographical position can be identified, e.g. according to one of the preceding criteria, then the computing unit 110 can send a notification regarding the systematic deviation for sensor detections at the geographical position to the driver assistance system 130-2 in the second vehicle 100-2 in order to activate suppression of the systematically deviating sensor detection, as illustrated in Fig. 2C. According to different embodiments, such a notification can be wirelessly transmitted to the second vehicle 100-2 and received by a receiver 140-2 in vehicle 100-2. Such a wireless interface can be based, for example, on any of the following technologies: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Access (CDMA), (CDMA 2000), Time Division Synchronous CDMA (TD-SCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE); Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), as defined by standards 802.11 a, ac, b, gund / or n, Internet Protocol (IP), Bluetooth and / or Near Field Communication (NFC) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), or a similar communication technology. According to different embodiments, the notification can be sent to all vehicles 100, to all vehicles 100 that are positioned near the geographical location, to all vehicles 100 that are registered with or subscribed to a given service that provides such information, or as a targeted notification for a specific vehicle 100-2. According to certain further embodiments, such a notification can instead be sent to the second vehicle 100-2 via a software update using a wireless or wired interface. Systematically deviating sensor detections can thus be suppressed in the second vehicle 100-2. Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the sensor 120 and the computing unit 110 are arranged in the same vehicle 100, as illustrated from the perspective of a driver inside the vehicle 100. In certain embodiments, the sensor 120 detects an object 125, in this case a traffic sign. Information received by the local driver assistance system 130, but interpreted as wildlife, can be displayed visually on a screen for the driver. This information can then be sent to the processing unit 110 via a wireless or wired interface, as described above. The embodiment can be used, for example, in a vehicle 100 which travels along the same roadway with a certain regularity, such as a city bus traveling along a given known route. If the computing unit 110 recognizes that a systematic deviation can be identified by comparing a completed sensor detection with previous sensor detections at the same geographical location [sic] If such a systematic deviation can be identified, e.g., by applying one of the preceding criteria, then this information is sent to the driver assistance system 130 to suppress a warning triggered by sensor detection. In certain embodiments, an action initiated by the vehicle's driver assistance system 130 can be suppressed. Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the sensor 120, as well as the computing unit 110, is arranged in the same first vehicle 100-1, but in which a notification relating to the systematic deviation for sensor detections at the geographical position is sent to the driver assistance system 130 in a second vehicle 100-2 in order to activate a suppression of the systematically deviating sensor detection. Alternatively, such a transmission can be carried out via a wireless interface, such as any of those previously illustrated as examples, to all vehicles within the range of the wireless transmission: to all vehicles positioned near the geographical location; to a vehicle 100-2 which is connected to a service that provides these discoveries of systematically deviating sensor detections. Fig. 5 illustrates an example of an embodiment of the invention. The flowchart in Fig. 5 illustrates a method 500 in a computing unit 110 for identifying a systematically deviating sensor detection at a geographical location and notifying a driver assistance system 130 in a vehicle 100 with reference to the identified systematically deviating sensor detection. The computing unit 110 can be located in the vehicle 100, in a second vehicle, or outside the vehicle 100, accessible for communication with a large number of vehicles. To correctly identify systematically deviating sensor detection, Method 500 may comprise a number of steps 501-504. However, it should be noted that, according to other embodiments, certain of the described steps 501-504 may be performed in a chronological order that differs in some respects from that indicated by the numerical sequence, and that some of these may be performed concurrently. Method 500 may comprise the following steps: Step 501 A sensor detection associated with a given geographical position is received by a vehicle sensor 120. Step 502 The received 501 sensor detection is compared with sensor detections previously received at the same geographical location. In certain embodiments, a comparison involves comparing warning statistics resulting from sensor detections at the geographic location with accident statistics for the same geographic location. Step 503 A systematic deviation from the sensor detections assigned to the geographical position is identified. In certain embodiments, the identification of the systematic deviation can be carried out if an increased sensor-triggered warning statistic can be identified in the absence of an increased accident statistic. In certain embodiments, the identification of the sensor detections associated with the geographical position may include identifying the type of vehicle environment at the geographical position, the type of sensor detection, and a plausibility assessment based on the probability that a given sensor detection will be performed in a given type of vehicle environment. Identifying the systematic deviation for sensor detections associated with geographic location may also include assessing the uniformity of the sensor detections, and a systematic deviation may be identified if a ratio between a first type of sensor detection and a second type of sensor detection for geographic location exceeds a threshold. Step 504 A notification regarding the systematic deviation for sensor detections at the geographical position is sent to the driver assistance system 130 in the vehicle 100 in order to activate a suppression of the systematically deviating sensor detection. The notification regarding a systematic deviation can be sent to vehicle 100 if it is near the geographical position where the faulty sensor detection 503 could be identified. In certain embodiments, the notification regarding a systematic deviation is sent to vehicle 100 via a software update. Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of a system 600 which includes a computing unit 110 which is configured to perform at least parts of the method 500 for identifying a systematically deviating sensor detection at a geographical position and notifying a driver assistance system 130 in a vehicle 100 with regard to the identified systematically deviating sensor detection. The computing unit 110 includes a receiving circuit 610, which is set up to receive a sensor detection assigned to the geographical position from a vehicle sensor 120. According to certain embodiments, such signal reception can be carried out via a wireless interface. Depending on the specific design, such a wireless interface can be based on any of the following technologies: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Access (CDMA), (CDMA 2000), Time Division Synchronous CDMA (TD-SCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE); Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), as defined by standards 802.11 a, ac, b, gund / or n, Internet Protocol (IP), Bluetooth or Near Field Communication (NFC) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), or a similar communication technology. According to certain other embodiments, the receiving circuit 610 and the sensor 120 are connected for communication and information transmission via a wired interface. Such a wired interface can comprise a communication bus system consisting of one or a plurality of communication buses for connecting a number of electronic control units (ECUs) to each other or to control units / controllers and various components as well as sensors arranged on the vehicle 100. The receiver circuit 610 and the sensor 120 are configured to communicate with each other in order to receive signals and measured values ​​and, optionally, for example, within a specific time interval, also to trigger a measurement. The receiver circuit 610 and the sensor 120 are further configured to communicate, for example, via the vehicle communication bus, which can consist of one or more cables, a data bus such as a CAN bus (Controller Area Network bus), a MOS bus (Media Oriented Systems Transport), or another bus configuration, or a wireless connection such as any of the wireless communication technologies listed above. The computing unit 110 also includes a processor circuit 620. The processor circuit 620 is configured to compare the received sensor detection with previously received sensor detections at the same geographic location and to identify any systematic deviation of the sensor detections assigned to the geographic location. In certain embodiments, the processor circuit 620 can also be configured to compare warning statistics resulting from sensor detections at the geographic location with accident statistics for the same geographic location, and to identify a systematic deviation if a sensor-triggered increased warning statistic can be identified in the absence of an increased accident statistic. In certain embodiments, the processor circuit 620 may further be configured to identify the type of vehicle environment at the geographical location as well as the type of sensor detection, to perform a plausibility assessment based on the probability that a given sensor detection is performed in a given type of vehicle environment, and to identify a systematic deviation for sensor detections associated with the geographical location based on the plausibility assessment. The processor circuit 620 can also be configured to determine the uniformity of the sensor detections performed at the geographic position and to identify a systematic deviation for the sensor detections when a ratio between a first type of sensor detection and a second type of sensor detection for the geographic position exceeds a limit value. The 620 processor circuit can consist of, for example, one or more CPUs, microprocessors, or other logic designed to interpret and execute instructions and / or read and write data. The 620 processor circuit can manage data for inputs, outputs, or data processing, including data buffering, control functions, and the like. The computing unit 110 further includes a transmission circuit 630, which is set up to transmit a notification regarding the systematic deviation for sensor detections at a geographical position to the driver assistance system 130 in the vehicle 100, in order to activate a suppression of the systematically deviating sensor detection. In certain embodiments, the transmission circuit 630 can be configured to transmit the notification relating to the systematic deviation to the vehicle 100 when it is near the geographical position where the faulty sensor detection could be identified. In certain embodiments, the computing unit 110 may further comprise a storage unit 625 configured to store the received sensor detections associated with a geographic location. In different embodiments, the storage unit 625 may consist of a data storage medium, such as a memory card, flash memory (USB), a hard disk, or another similar data storage unit, such as any of the following: ROM (Read-Only Memory), PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable PROM), flash memory, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM), etc. According to certain embodiments, the invention also includes a computer program for identifying a systematically deviating sensor detection at a geographical position and notifying a driver assistance system 130 in a vehicle 100 about the identified systematically deviating sensor detection by means of a method 500 according to one of steps 501-504, when the computer program is executed in a processor circuit 620 in a computing unit 110. The method 500, according to at least one of the steps 501-504 for identifying the systematically deviating sensor detection, can be implemented by means of one or a plurality of processor circuits 620 in the computing unit 110 together with a computer program code for executing one, several, specific, or all of the steps 501-504 described above. A computer program containing instructions for executing steps 501-504 when the program is loaded into the processor circuit 620 can thereby be [achieved]. In certain embodiments, this previously described computer program in the vehicle 100 is configured to be installed in the storage unit 625 in the computing unit 110, e.g. via a wireless interface as described above. In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises a system 600 for identifying a systematically deviating sensor detection at a geographical position and notifying a driver assistance system 130 in a vehicle 100 with regard to the identified systematically deviating sensor detection. System 600 comprises a vehicle sensor 120 configured for sensor detection. System 600 also comprises a computing unit 110, as described above. In certain embodiments, System 600 further comprises a driver assistance system 130. The vehicle sensor 120 included in the System 600 can, for example, comprise a camera, a 3D camera, a radar measuring device, a laser measuring device, and / or an ultrasonic distance measuring device. The System 600 can further include a variety of vehicle sensors. In certain embodiments of the system 600, the vehicle sensor 120, the computing unit 110, and the driver assistance system 130 can be arranged in the same vehicle 100. In other embodiments, the vehicle sensor 120 is arranged in a first vehicle 100-1, and the driver assistance system 130 is arranged in a second vehicle 100-2, wherein the computing unit 110 can be arranged in any one of the vehicles 100-1, 100-2, or at any position outside the vehicles 100-1, 100-2. In certain embodiments of the system 600, the computing unit 110 is configured to communicate wirelessly with the vehicle sensor 120 and the driver assistance system 130, wherein the vehicle sensor 120 is arranged in a first vehicle 100-1, and the driver assistance system 130 is arranged in a second vehicle 100-2. The invention also includes a vehicle 100 which contains a system 600 for identifying a systematically deviating sensor detection at a geographical position.

Claims

Method (500) in a computing unit (110) for identifying a systematically deviating sensor detection at a geographical position and notifying a driver assistance system (130) in a vehicle (100) regarding the identified systematically deviating sensor detection, characterized by: receiving (501) a sensor detection associated with the geographical position from a vehicle sensor (120); comparing (502) the received (501) sensor detection with a sensor detection previously received at the same geographical position;Identifying (503) a systematic deviation from the geographic position associated sensor detections, comprising identifying the type of vehicle environment at the geographic position, the type of sensor detection and a plausibility assessment based on the probability that a given sensor detection is performed in a given type of vehicle environment, wherein the plausibility assessment includes mapping to a table containing set limits which reflect the probability that a given sensor detection occurs in that vehicle environment;the transmission (504) of a notification relating to the systematic deviation for sensor detections at the geographical position to the driver assistance system (130) in the vehicle (100) in order to activate a suppression of the systematically deviating sensor detection, wherein the comparison (502) comprises a comparison between the received sensor detection and previously received sensor detections obtained through a manually monitored sensor detection. Method (500) according to claim 1, wherein the comparison (502) comprises a comparison between warning statistics resulting from sensor detections at the geographic location, with accident statistics for the same geographic location, and wherein the identification (503) of a systematic deviation is carried out when increased sensor-triggered warning statistics are identifiable in the absence of increased accident statistics. Method (500) according to one of claims 1-2, wherein the identification (503) of a systematic deviation from the geographic position associated sensor detections comprises an assessment of the uniformity of the sensor detections, and wherein a systematic deviation is identified (503) when a ratio between a first type of sensor detection and a second type of sensor detection for the geographic position exceeds a limit value. Method (500) according to one of claims 1-3, wherein the transmission (504) of the notification regarding a systematic deviation is provided to the vehicle (100) when it is in the vicinity of the geographical position where the faulty sensor detection could be identified (503). Method (500) according to one of claims 1-3, wherein the transmission (504) of the notification of a systematic deviation was provided to the vehicle (100) via a software update.A computing unit (110) for identifying a systematically deviating sensor detection at a geographical position and notifying a driver assistance system (130) in a vehicle (100) regarding the identified systematically deviating sensor detection, wherein the computing unit (110) is characterized by: a receiving circuit (610) configured to receive a sensor detection associated with the geographical position from a vehicle sensor (120); a processor circuit (620) configured to compare the received sensor detection with sensor detections previously received at the same geographical position, and configured to identify a systematic deviation from the sensor detections associated with the geographical position, and further configured to identify the type of vehicle environment at the geographical position and the type of sensor detection.to perform a plausibility assessment based on the probability that a given sensor detection occurs in a given type of vehicle environment, and to identify a systematic deviation from the geographical position associated with sensor detections based on the plausibility assessment, wherein the plausibility assessment includes mapping to a table containing set limit values ​​that indicate the probability that a given sensor detection occurs in this vehicle environment; a transmission circuit (630) configured to transmit a notification regarding the systematic deviation in sensor detections at the geographical position to the driver assistance system (130) in the vehicle (100) in order to activate suppression of the systematically deviating sensor detection, wherein the processor circuit (620) is further configured toto compare the received sensor detection with previously received sensor detections obtained through manually monitored sensor detection. Computing unit (110) according to claim 6, wherein the processor circuit (620) is further configured to compare warning statistics resulting from sensor detections at the geographic location with accident statistics for the same geographic location, and is configured to identify a systematic deviation when an increased warning statistic is identifiable in the absence of an increased accident statistic. Computing unit (110) according to claims 6-7, wherein the processor circuit (620) is further configured to determine the uniformity of the sensor detections performed at the geographic position, and is configured to identify a systematic deviation for the sensor detections when a ratio between a first type of sensor detection and a second type of sensor detection for the geographic position exceeds a limit value. Computing unit (110) according to claims 6-8, wherein the transmission circuit (630) is further configured to transmit the notification regarding the systematic deviation to the vehicle (100) when it is in the vicinity of the geographical position where the faulty sensor detection has been identified. Computing unit (110) according to claims 6-9, further comprising: a storage unit (625) configured to store received sensor detections associated with a geographical position. Computer program for identifying a systematically deviating sensor detection at a geographical position and notifying a driver assistance system (130) in a vehicle (100) regarding the identified systematically deviating sensor detection by means of a method (500) according to one of claims 1-5, when the computer program is executed in a processor circuit (620) in a computing unit (110) according to one of claims 6-10. System (600) for identifying a systematically deviating sensor detection at a geographical position and notifying a driver assistance system (130) in a vehicle (100) regarding the identified systematically deviating sensor detection, wherein the system (600) comprises: a vehicle sensor (120) configured for sensor detection; a computing unit (110) according to any one of claims 6-10. System (600) according to claim 12, wherein the vehicle sensor (120) comprises: a camera, a 3D camera, a radar measuring device, a laser measuring device, an ultrasonic wave-based distance measuring device. System (600) according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the vehicle sensor (120), the computing unit (110) and the driver assistance system (130) are arranged in the same vehicle (100). System (600) according to one of claims 12-14, wherein the vehicle sensor (120) is arranged in a first vehicle (100-1), the driver assistance system (130) is arranged in a second vehicle (100-2) and wherein the computing unit (110) is configured to communicate wirelessly with the vehicle sensor (120) and the driver assistance system (130). System (600) according to one of claims 12-15, wherein the vehicle sensor (120) and the computing unit (110) are arranged in a first vehicle (100-1), the driver assistance system (130) is arranged in a second vehicle (100-2), and wherein the computing unit (110) is configured to communicate wirelessly with the driver assistance system (130) in the second vehicle (100-2). Vehicle (100) comprising a system (600) according to one of claims 12-16 for identifying a systematically deviating sensor detection at a geographical position.

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