METHOD FOR ASSISTING A DRIVER IN THE USE OF A DRIVER ASSISTANCE FUNCTION IN A MOTOR VEHICLE AND MOTOR VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to two methods for assisting a driver in using a driver assistance function in a motor vehicle and to a motor vehicle.

[0002] Current developments show that many new business areas are focusing on carsharing and the associated approach of increasing the daily usage time per vehicle. In the future, it is expected that customers will own fewer vehicles and instead use individual vehicles provided by rental companies, which are already located at many intermodal transfer points such as airports or train stations. This will lead to more situations where a customer is sitting in a vehicle for the first time to travel a specific route. Since customers in this use case will not receive instruction from a salesperson or read an entire owner's manual before starting their journey, and therefore will be unfamiliar with many functions, these functions will often be used incorrectly or not at all.For example, if a customer is using a vehicle with a cross-traffic alert system for the first time, they often do not know how to activate the cross-traffic alert system, and especially in which situations a significant increase in comfort can be generated by this assistance function.

[0003] German patent DE 10 2010 009 132 A1 discloses a method for supporting a driver when operating a motor vehicle equipped with a driver assistance system. To assist the driver in making the best possible use of the driver assistance system, a user identification procedure is automatically performed when the motor vehicle is started. Depending on the result of this procedure, the driver then automatically receives instructions for using the driver assistance system. The driver receives at least information about the presence of the driver assistance system, thus enabling them to use it. The driver can receive information tailored to the current driving situation.

[0004] Furthermore, DE 10 2012 008 260 A1 discloses a method for interactively learning about a driver assistance system present in a vehicle while driving. In this method, the driver can select and activate a tutor function, which then provides the driver with a tutorial.

[0005] Furthermore, a method for providing information about an environment on a smart device is known from DE 10 2013 019 563 A1.

[0006] Furthermore, DE 10 2019 102 924 A1 discloses a method for operating a driver assistance function of a vehicle.

[0007] The purpose of the invention is to create a solution that enables a particularly good situation-dependent recommendation of a driver assistance function in a motor vehicle for a driver.

[0008] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further possible embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims, the description, and the figures.

[0009] The invention relates to a first method for supporting a driver in using a driver assistance function in a motor vehicle. In this method, a determined route of the motor vehicle is divided into several segments. The route can be determined, for example, by means of a navigation system in the motor vehicle. Based on activated route guidance, the route can be determined by the navigation system and made available for the method. The motor vehicle can include an electronic computing device configured to receive the determined route from a navigation system and divide it into segments. In this method, each segment is assigned a priority that characterizes how advantageous the use of the driver assistance function is in the respective segment.This allocation of priorities to the respective segments can be carried out using the electronic computing unit. The electronic computing unit can thus determine how suitable the use of the driver assistance function is in the respective segments and then assign a priority to each segment based on this assessment.

[0010] The procedure further stipulates that a sequence of segments is created based on their priority and their occurrence along the route. This sequence can be generated using an electronic computing device. The electronic computing device can thus be configured to perform an optimization procedure in which the segments are sorted according to their assigned priority and their occurrence along the route. The sequence is understood to be a virtual arrangement of the segments, which does not necessarily correspond to their physical order. The higher the priority of a segment and the earlier its occurrence along the route, the further forward in the sequence the segment is placed.The lower the priority of a segment, or the later the segment appears along the route, the further back it is placed in the sequence. The system also provides for the driver to be alerted to the driver assistance function by means of a warning signal when the vehicle is traveling in the first segment of the sequence. This means that the warning signal is issued to the driver in a segment with the highest possible priority that appears as early as possible along the route. The warning signal can be triggered, for example, by the electronic processing unit. The vehicle can be equipped with an output device for this purpose, which is configured to emit the warning signal visually and / or audibly.

[0011] In a possible further development of the invention, it is provided that the priority of the segments is assigned depending on a road class of the respective segment. The road class can, in particular, characterize whether the route in the segment runs via a motorway, a rural road with few or long curves, a rural road with many tight curves, or an urban street. Thus, segments in which the determined route runs via a motorway can be assigned priority 1, segments in which the determined route runs via a rural road with few or long curves can be assigned priority 2, segments in which the determined route runs via a rural road with many tight curves can be assigned priority 3, and segments in which the vehicle's route runs via an urban street can be assigned priority 4.For example, if the optimized route planning determined that a vehicle is currently scheduled to travel from Berlin to Hamburg, then the first leg of this route would lead through city streets in Berlin, the second leg through rural roads with few wide curves, the third leg through the motorway, and the fourth leg through city streets in Hamburg. Therefore, segments in the first leg would be assigned priority 4, segments in the second leg priority 2, segments in the third leg priority 1, and segments in the fourth leg priority 4.Regarding their occurrence along the route, the segments of the first trip segment would occur first, the segments of the second trip segment second, the segments of the third trip segment third, and the segments of the fourth trip segment last. Since the segments of the second trip segment have a high priority of 2 and also occur relatively early along the determined route, one of the segments of the second trip segment would be placed at the very beginning of the sequence. This would trigger the warning signal for the driver assistance function in the vehicle as soon as the vehicle enters that segment. Thus, while the vehicle is traveling in that segment of the second trip segment, the driver would be alerted to the driver assistance function by means of this warning signal.This could allow the driver to be alerted to the driver assistance system particularly early in their journey along the determined route, specifically in a segment that is especially well-suited for its use due to its high priority. This can create a particularly high level of driver acceptance of the system and significantly increase the likelihood that the driver will continue to activate it while driving along the route. This, in turn, can lead to a particularly high probability of the driver assistance system being used.

[0012] In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the route segments are divided according to a predetermined distance or estimated travel time of the vehicle within each segment. The distance or travel time thus allows for the predefined extent or length of the respective segments. This avoids large differences between the segment lengths. As a result, the sequence of segments can be optimized particularly well based on their priority and their occurrence along the route.

[0013] In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the route segments are divided according to respective termination scenarios for the driver assistance function and / or according to the respective road classifications of roads used in the route. The termination scenario can be caused, for example, by the presence of a traffic light and / or an intersection and / or a roundabout and / or a sharp curve. This means that the respective segments can extend in length from a first termination scenario to a second termination scenario, provided that the road classification of the road remains unchanged from the first termination scenario to the second. Dividing the segments according to the respective road classifications means that if a road on which the vehicle is traveling changes road classification, the route is subdivided in the area of ​​the road classification change.In other words, the road class change or the termination scenario defines the beginning and end of each segment. Dividing the segments according to their respective road classes ensures that each segment is assigned only one road class, thus making the priority assignment for that segment unambiguous, provided the priority is based on the road class. Dividing the segments according to the termination scenarios ensures that the driver assistance function can be used continuously within each segment. In the sections of the route where the termination scenarios typically occur, the driver assistance function is expected to be deactivated.This means that if the end of a first segment is determined by a termination scenario, the driver assistance function activated in the first segment is deactivated at the end of the first segment and must therefore be reactivated in a subsequent second segment in order to continue using it. This effectively prevents the driver assistance function from being deactivated within individual segments.

[0014] A second, non-utilizing method for supporting a driver in using a driver assistance function in a motor vehicle may exist. This second method provides background information. It involves analyzing swarm data from a current segment of the journey, specifically regarding the utilization rate of the driver assistance function and / or its termination behavior. This swarm data analysis can be performed, in particular, using an electronic computing unit within the vehicle. For this purpose, the electronic computing unit can receive the swarm data from a higher-level electronic computing unit, such as a server.

[0015] This swarm data represents the respective movement paths of vehicles along the current route segment. These movement paths have been traveled by vehicles in the past and provided to the central computing unit. The central computing unit can then make these movement paths available to the vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the central computing unit can analyze the multitude of vehicle movement paths and provide the results of this analysis as swarm data, or as a subset of the swarm data, to the vehicle or the electronic computing unit.Based on the swarm data, the utilization rate of the driver assistance function by the vehicles in the past in the current journey segment and / or the termination behavior of the driver assistance function when used in the vehicles in the past for the current journey segment can be determined.

[0016] The utilization rate of the driver assistance function characterizes the proportion of vehicles that have previously traveled through the segment of the journey and used the driver assistance function. The termination behavior characterizes how often the driver assistance function was terminated during its use in the past within that segment of the journey.

[0017] In the unclaimed method, it is further stipulated that the driver is alerted to the driver assistance function by means of a warning signal when it is determined that the usage rate of the driver assistance function is higher than a predefined first threshold and / or the dropout rate of the driver assistance function is lower than a predefined second threshold. This means that the driver is alerted to the driver assistance function by means of the warning signal when the analysis of the swarm data determines that the use of the driver assistance function is considered advisable. The use of the driver assistance function is considered advisable if the usage rate of the driver assistance function in the swarm data is higher than the predefined first threshold and / or the dropout rate, and thus the abandonment rate of the driver assistance function, is lower than the predefined second threshold.For this second method, it is therefore irrelevant whether the vehicle's route is known. The warning signal is issued based on the analysis of the swarm data available for the current segment of the journey. This method thus enables particularly effective support for the driver in the current segment when using the driver assistance function, by issuing the warning signal to the driver if the swarm data has determined that using the driver assistance function is advisable in the current segment.

[0018] In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the warning signal is emitted when at least one predefined condition is met. This condition could be that the segment or section of the journey has at least a predefined minimum length. Alternatively or additionally, it could be that at least one of the driver's hands is on the steering wheel. Alternatively or additionally, it could be that the vehicle maintains at least a predefined minimum distance from a lane boundary of the lane in which the vehicle is located. Alternatively or additionally, it could be that no wheel of the vehicle is positioned outside the lane in which the vehicle is located.Alternatively or additionally, a condition can be specified that the lane markings of the road on which the vehicle is traveling meet at least one predefined quality criterion. Compliance with this at least one predefined condition ensures that the driver assistance function can be reliably used in the current segment of the journey. If this at least one predefined condition is not met, it is possible that the driver assistance function will be deactivated while the vehicle is driving on that segment. By ensuring that the at least one predefined condition is met before the warning signal is issued, driver frustration with the driver assistance function can be minimized by keeping the probability of its deactivation in that segment of the journey particularly low.Specifying a minimum length for the segment or section of the journey ensures that the driver assistance function has sufficient time to reliably detect environmental factors necessary for the driver assistance system, such as lane markings.

[0019] For example, lane markings should be reliably detected for at least a predetermined number of meters before it is considered appropriate to activate the driver assistance function. Requiring that at least one of the driver's hands be on the steering wheel ensures that the driver can resume control of the vehicle from the driver assistance function at any time. Specifying that the vehicle must maintain a minimum distance from the lane markings, or that no wheel of the vehicle may be outside the lane, prevents a sudden correction of the vehicle's trajectory towards the center of the lane when the driver assistance function is activated. This ensures smooth, uninterrupted steering of the vehicle when the driver assistance function is activated.By ensuring that the specified quality criterion is met by the lane markings on the road, the probability of the activated driver assistance function being aborted is kept particularly low once the driver has started the driver assistance function as a result of receiving the warning signal.

[0020] In a possible further development of the invention, it is provided that the driver's experience with the driver assistance function is analyzed, and the warning signal is automatically issued if it is determined that the driver has no experience with the driver assistance function. The driver's experience with the driver assistance function can be analyzed, for example, by identifying the driver using the electronic computing unit and / or the higher-level electronic computing unit, and then examining whether the driver has already driven a motor vehicle equipped with the driver assistance function, or whether the driver assistance function was activated while the driver was driving a motor vehicle equipped with the driver assistance function.Especially with carsharing services, the driver identifies themselves to the carsharing provider before each trip with a specific vehicle. The carsharing provider thus knows which vehicles the driver has already rented and therefore most likely driven. Furthermore, the carsharing provider may be informed whether the driver has used the driver assistance functions during their trips. If it is determined that the driver has already used the driver assistance functions during a trip, the notification signal can be disabled. However, the driver can be informed that they can manually activate assistance when using the driver assistance functions, for example, via a user input in the vehicle's infotainment system.This means that the driver can configure the infotainment system to receive a warning signal, even if they already have experience with the driver assistance system, whenever the electronic computer determines that its use is recommended. This ensures that drivers who are very familiar with the driver assistance system are not bothered by the warning signal, while simultaneously providing enhanced support to less experienced drivers through the automatic warning signal. Furthermore, it allows drivers who have already gained experience with the driver assistance system to request and receive the warning signal upon request, by entering user input.

[0021] In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the control element is visually highlighted as a warning signal, and its activation triggers the driver assistance function. The control element could, for example, be a button in the vehicle's interior, particularly in the area of ​​the vehicle's instrument panel. The control element could be illuminated and thus highlighted, for example, by a light source. By visually highlighting the control element as a warning signal, the driver's gaze can be drawn to it particularly easily and quickly. Consequently, the driver can activate the driver assistance function by pressing the control element. This enables a particularly intuitive activation of the driver assistance function.

[0022] In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the driver assistance function provides support to the driver during lane changes, longitudinal steering of the vehicle, lane keeping, and / or maintaining a safe distance from a vehicle ahead. This means that the driver assistance function is designed to assist the driver with lateral and / or longitudinal steering, thus providing support. In this way, the driver can be particularly well supported in controlling the vehicle by the driver assistance function.

[0023] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle equipped to carry out a method as already described in connection with the first method according to the invention, and / or a method as already described in connection with the second method according to the invention. Advantages and advantageous developments of the methods according to the invention are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention, and vice versa.

[0024] Further features of the invention can be seen from the following description of the figures and from the drawing.

[0025] The drawing shows in: Fig. 1 a process diagram for a first method for supporting a driver in using a driver assistance function in a motor vehicle; Fig. 2 a process diagram for a second method for supporting a driver in using a driver assistance function in a motor vehicle; and Fig. 3 a determined route of the motor vehicle, which is divided into several segments, wherein each segment is assigned a priority and the respective segments are sorted according to their assigned priority and their time of occurrence along the route, wherein a warning signal is output in the motor vehicle, indicating a driver assistance function, when the motor vehicle is traveling in the first segment of the newly sorted sequence of segments.

[0026] Identical or functionally equivalent elements are marked with the same reference symbols in the figures.

[0027] In the Figs. 1 and 2The diagrams show procedure diagrams for different methods of supporting a driver in using a driver assistance function in a motor vehicle. In each method, the driver can be alerted, by means of a warning signal, in particular a visual highlighting of a control element, that the driver assistance function is available in the vehicle and that using this function is particularly advantageous and therefore recommended at the moment the control element is visually highlighted. By activating the control element, such as by pressing it, the driver can start the driver assistance function. The driver assistance function is specifically designed to assist the driver with lane changes, longitudinal control of the vehicle, lane keeping, and / or maintaining a safe distance from a vehicle ahead.In particular, the driver assistance function may be a so-called Travel Assist.

[0028] In Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a procedure diagram for a first procedure to support the driver in using the driver assistance function in the motor vehicle. In the first procedure, a determined route of the motor vehicle is divided into several segments A to E in a first procedure step V10. The route can be determined, in particular, by a navigation system of the motor vehicle if route guidance is activated. A route divided into several segments A to E is in Fig. 3shown schematically. The designations A to E serve to distinguish the respective segments. In a second process step V12 of the first process, it is provided that each segment A to E is assigned a priority, which characterizes how advantageous the use of the driver assistance function is in the respective segment. Fig. 3The respective priorities are shown assigned to the segments. In this case, segment A is assigned priority 4, segment B priority 2, segment C priority 3, segment D priority 2, and segment E priority 1. The respective priority is chosen based on the road class assigned to each segment. The road class describes the type of road that forms part of the route in the respective segment. In this case, the road class could be a motorway, a rural road with few or wide curves, a rural road with many and / or tight curves, or an urban road.In this case, priority 1 is assigned to segments classified as highways, priority 2 to segments classified as rural roads with few and / or wide curves, priority 3 to rural roads with many and / or tight curves, and priority 4 to urban roads. Priority 1 is the highest priority, with the priority decreasing as the numerical value increases.

[0029] When dividing the route into segments, a minimum length can be specified for each segment. This can be achieved by defining a specific distance or an estimated travel time for the vehicle to traverse each segment. This means that the time the vehicle is allowed to take to travel through each segment is specified, and the segment length is adjusted accordingly so that the vehicle requires the estimated time to complete the segment. Segments can be structured to begin or end at a road classification change or upon the occurrence of a trip termination scenario. Dividing the segments according to road classifications ensures that the route through each segment comprises only one road classification.This allows the respective priority to be clearly assigned to each segment.

[0030] A termination scenario is a situation in which the activated driver assistance system is automatically deactivated due to environmental conditions. Such a termination scenario can occur, for example, when the vehicle reaches an intersection, traffic light, roundabout, or a curve that is too tight for the driver assistance system to handle. By dividing the segments so that these termination scenarios are located at the transitions between two segments, the probability of the activated driver assistance function being deactivated is kept particularly low while the vehicle is driving along the route within a segment.

[0031] In a third process step V14 of the first process, it is provided that a sequence of the segments is created depending on their priority and depending on their occurrence along the route. This sorting of the segments based on the time of their occurrence along the route and their assigned priority is in Fig. 3 The segments are ranked using an optimization procedure, whereby the higher the priority of the segments, or the earlier they appear along the route, they are placed further ahead in the sequence. As shown in Fig. 3It can be identified that segment B has the best combination of priority and timing of occurrence along the route, thus placing segment B at the beginning of the sequence. Segment A has the worst combination of priority and timing according to the optimization procedure and is therefore placed at the end of the sequence. Depending on the optimization procedure, the priority assigned to the respective segments or their timing along the route may be weighted more heavily when sorting the segments.

[0032] In a fourth process step V16 of the first process, it is provided that the driver is alerted to the driver assistance function by means of a warning signal when the vehicle is traveling in the first segment of the sequence. This means that, in this case, the warning signal is issued to the driver in the vehicle as soon as the vehicle enters segment B or while the vehicle is traveling in segment B. This allows the driver to receive the warning signal particularly early along the route in a segment with a particularly high priority, and thus in a segment where the use of the driver assistance function is especially recommended.If the driver activates the driver assistance function while driving in the first segment of the route, they will become familiar with it very early on, in a segment where the function works particularly well. This allows the driver to have especially positive experiences with the driver assistance function, increasing the likelihood that they will use it again or more frequently in the future.

[0033] In other words, the first procedure can be performed while the vehicle's route guidance is active. This procedure involves a search routine to sort the segments of the entire route according to predefined priorities. The route is divided into segments, for example, five-minute or three-kilometer segments, and then these segments are prioritized using an optimization process. An example of this is described below. If a priority 1 segment is among the first five segments along the route, then this priority 1 segment is selected as the segment in which the driver first receives the warning signal. This warning signal is a recommendation to activate the driver assistance function.However, if this priority 1 segment only occurs after an hour of driving, then a priority 2 segment can be placed as the first segment in the sequence.

[0034] The segments can alternatively be divided into sections with varying lengths and / or travel times for traversing each segment. For example, a segment could encompass the entire length of the route from its starting point to an intersection or to a turning point. It is specifically intended that each segment must meet a minimum travel time and / or a minimum distance requirement for it to be analyzed and prioritized. If a segment fails to meet either the specified minimum travel time or distance requirement, the warning signal will not be displayed for that segment.

[0035] The second method for supporting the driver in using the driver assistance function in the motor vehicle, which is described in the procedure scheme in Fig. 2As shown, the guidance signal is intended to be issued based on swarm data for a section of the journey on which the vehicle is located. For this purpose, the second method involves analyzing, in a first step (V20), the swarm data for the current section of the journey with regard to the utilization rate of the driver assistance function and / or its termination behavior. For this, the vehicle can receive the swarm data from a server and analyze it. The swarm data represents data recorded by other vehicles while traversing the same section of the journey in the past. The utilization rate of the driver assistance function describes how many of the vehicles that have previously traversed the section of the journey used the driver assistance function while doing so.The termination behavior, in turn, describes the proportion of vehicles, or the number of vehicles, that used the driver assistance function while traversing a particular section of the journey before the function was terminated. If the analysis of the swarm data reveals that the utilization rate of the driver assistance function is higher than a predefined first threshold and / or the termination rate of the driver assistance function is lower than a predefined second threshold, then, in the second process step V22, the driver is alerted to the driver assistance function by means of a warning signal. In other words, the warning signal, and thus the recommended action, is issued as soon as the vehicle is traveling on a road with good lane markings, and the swarm data indicates that this current section of the journey presents a favorable scenario for the use of the driver assistance function.

[0036] This favorable scenario occurs when the driver assistance function is used to a high degree with few instances of its deactivation, and when the trajectory of the journey segment is suitable for the driver assistance function with minimal curvature. The driver is particularly supported by the second method when using the driver assistance function in the vehicle when route guidance is not active. Consequently, the driver is supported by the second method when activating the driver assistance function if no navigation data is available, but swarm data is.

[0037] If route guidance is not active and no swarm data is available for the current segment of the journey, a warning signal can be issued, provided the road classification of the road the vehicle is currently traveling on is known and the vehicle is on a defined road classification. This warning signal can be issued, in particular, when the vehicle is traveling on a motorway or a rural road, whereas it will not be issued when the vehicle is traveling on an urban street. Information about the current road classification can be obtained from the vehicle's navigation system.

[0038] This means that the navigation system can provide information about where the vehicle is currently driving and, depending on the information, the warning signal is either issued or not issued.

[0039] In particular, the warning signal can only be issued during these procedures if all specified conditions are met. One condition may be that the segment or section of the journey must have a minimum specified length. Alternatively or additionally, it may be specified that at least one of the driver's hands must be on the steering wheel. Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, it may be specified that the vehicle must maintain a minimum specified distance from the lane marking of the lane in which it is located. Finally, alternatively or additionally, it may be specified that no wheel of the vehicle may be positioned outside the lane in which it is located.Alternatively or additionally, a condition can be specified that the detected lane markings of a road on which the vehicle is traveling must meet at least one predefined quality criterion. This means that, generally, at least one predefined environmental condition must be met for the warning signal to be issued. This means that in heavy rain, snow, or if a camera system designed to detect lane markings is dirty, the warning signal will not be issued. The specific predefined conditions can depend on the road type or the priority of the respective segment or section of the journey.Thus, under ideal conditions for the driver assistance function, the warning signal can be issued on the highway or on rural roads, whereas under less than ideal conditions, the warning signal may only be issued when the vehicle is traveling on the highway. This means that the issuance of the warning signal can depend on the priority and on environmental conditions. For example, weather conditions can influence a priority threshold, which defines the priorities at which the warning signal is issued and at which priorities it is suppressed.

[0040] A possible process for activating the driver assistance function is as follows: The vehicle is unlocked using a key or a mobile electronic device, such as a smartphone. The vehicle can then query a server, and thus a backend system, to determine whether the driver has previously rented vehicles equipped with the driver assistance function and used it on past trips. The driver can be authenticated via Bluetooth ID or other methods. Based on a response signal received from the backend, the vehicle can determine whether the driver has prior experience with the driver assistance function.If it is determined that the driver already has experience with the driver assistance function, a pop-up in the infotainment system can inform the driver before the journey begins that recommendations for using the driver assistance function are deactivated. If the driver wishes to receive these recommendations, they can adjust this setting in the infotainment system. Consequently, the driver will not receive any recommendations for using the driver assistance function unless they explicitly request them. If it is determined that the driver already has experience with the driver assistance function, the driver can be informed that the driver assistance function is available in the vehicle and / or what functions it offers.

[0041] If it is determined that the driver has no experience with the driver assistance function, the driver will be notified via a pop-up in the infotainment system before the journey begins that the vehicle recommends the use of the driver assistance function in certain situations by issuing a warning signal, for example, by highlighting the button on the steering wheel associated with the driver assistance function. This highlighting may involve flashing, color changes, and / or vibration. This means that if it is determined that the driver has no experience with the driver assistance function, the warning signal will be issued automatically when it is determined that the use of the driver assistance function is advisable.

[0042] The warning signal is therefore only issued if it is determined that the driver has no experience with the driver assistance function, or if the issuing of the warning signal has been explicitly activated by the driver, provided that the driver already has experience with the driver assistance function.

[0043] Once the driver assistance function has been activated during a terminal cycle and has remained active for longer than a predefined period, such as 30 seconds or 500 meters, no further action recommendation in the form of a warning signal will be issued for that journey. If a driver change is detected during a terminal cycle, the warning signal can be issued again for the new driver. The driver change can be detected, in particular, by means of a driver monitoring camera and / or based on seat adjustment and / or seat occupancy.

[0044] The procedures are designed so that a recommendation for action is issued in the form of a warning signal when it is determined that a suitable situation exists for the use of the driver assistance function. A suitable situation for the use of the driver assistance function is determined when, firstly, its use is generally possible. Furthermore, the assessment of whether a situation is suitable for the use of the driver assistance function depends on the road classification of the road on which the vehicle is traveling. If it is determined that a suitable situation exists for the use of the driver assistance function, the driver is alerted to its use by the issuance of the warning signal.

[0045] Overall, the invention discloses methods for optimizing the application of driver assistance systems, particularly when using a lateral driving function. Reference symbol list

[0046] V10 to V22 respective process steps A to E segments 1 to 4 respective priorities

Claims

1. Method for supporting a driver in using a driver assistance function in a motor vehicle, wherein - a determined route of the motor vehicle is divided into a plurality of segments (A-E) (V10), - each segment (A-E) is assigned a priority (1-4) which characterizes how advantageous the use of the driver assistance function is in the relevant segment (A-E) (V12), characterized in that - a sequence of the segments (A-E) is created on the basis of their priority (1-4) and on the basis of their occurrence along the route (V14), and - the driver assistance function is suggested to the driver by means of a suggestion signal when the motor vehicle is traveling in the first segment of the sequence (V16).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the priority (1-4) is assigned to the relevant segment (A-E) on the basis of a relevant road class of the relevant segment.

3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the segments (A-E) of the route are classified with regard to a predetermined distance or with regard to a predetermined estimated traveling time of the motor vehicle in the relevant segment (A-E).

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the segments (A-E) of the route are classified according to respective termination scenarios for the driver assistance function and / or according to respective road classes of roads used on the route.

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the suggestion signal is output when at least one predetermined condition of the following conditions is met: - the segment (A-E) or the journey section has at least a predetermined minimum length, - at least one hand of the driver is on the steering wheel, - the motor vehicle is at least a predetermined minimum distance from a lane boundary of a lane in which the motor vehicle is located, - no wheel of the motor vehicle is outside the lane in which the motor vehicle is located, - lane markings of a road on which the motor vehicle is traveling meet at least one predetermined quality criterion.

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the driver is analyzed with regard to their experience with the driver assistance function, and the suggestion signal is automatically output if it is determined that the driver has no experience with the driver assistance function.

7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, as a suggestion signal, a control element is optically emphasized, the actuation of which control element triggers the start of the driver assistance function.

8. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the driver assistance function assists the driver in changing lanes and / or in longitudinal guidance of the motor vehicle and / or in staying in lane and / or in maintaining a distance to a vehicle traveling in front.

9. Motor vehicle which is designed to carry out a method according to any of the preceding claims.