Method and device for controlling a radio receiver on board a vehicle.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a radio receiver on board a vehicle. The method replaces (36) a reception frequency of a radio station being listened to by an alternative frequency which is determined (35) according to first data stored (32) on a remote device, each first data being representative of a reception frequency of a radio station listened to during a journey of the vehicle, of a power level of a received radio signal corresponding to said radio station being listened to and of a geographical position of the vehicle at the time when said reception frequency and said power level are obtained. Figure for abstract: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for controlling a radio receiver on board a vehicle. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to methods and devices for controlling a radio receiver on board a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, and more particularly the selection of a reception frequency for a radio station listened to on board the vehicle. Technological background

[0002] Vehicles, particularly automobiles, are equipped with radio reception systems that allow users of these vehicles to listen to radio stations during their journeys. These radio reception systems are configured to select a reception frequency corresponding to a radio station being listened to according to the power level of the received radio signal. When the power level of a radio signal corresponding to a particular reception frequency becomes weak to the point that listening to the radio station is no longer satisfactory, the radio reception system then selects an alternative reception frequency and the radio receiver of this radio reception system tunes to this alternative reception frequency to extend listening to the radio station being listened to. The selection of the alternative reception frequency is very often based on a power level of the radio signal corresponding to this alternative reception frequency.

[0003] Several radio receiver control systems exist to ensure the quality of listening to a radio station and to select a reception frequency which corresponds to a maximum radio signal power level.

[0004] For this, it is known that these systems use several radio receivers and select the one of these receivers which provides the radio signal with the best power level.

[0005] However, these radio receiver control systems introduce listening interruptions (discontinuities) of a radio station when searching for alternative reception frequencies. This is inconvenient for users.

[0006] The problem is to improve existing radio receiver control systems to avoid interruptions in listening to a radio station in the event of a change in the receiving frequency.

[0007] Summary of the present invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to improve existing radio receiver control systems.

[0010] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a radio receiver on board a first vehicle comprising the following steps: - obtaining first data from the first and / or at least one second vehicle, each first data item being obtained from the first and / or a second vehicle being representative of a reception frequency of a radio station listened to during the journey of said first or second vehicle, of a power level of a received radio signal corresponding to said radio station listened to and of a geographical position of the first or second vehicle at the time when said reception frequency and said power level are obtained; - storing one of said first data by a remote device if the power level of the radio signal of said first data is greater than a reference power level; - transmission, by the first vehicle and to the remote device, of a second piece of data representative of a current reception frequency of a listening radio station, of a current power level of the corresponding radio signal and of a current geographical position of the first vehicle; - selection, by the remote device, of at least one reception frequency from among the reception frequencies of the first stored data, each selected reception frequency being an alternative to the current reception frequency of the listening radio station and the power level of the radio signal corresponding to said selected reception frequency being greater than the current power level of the radio signal; - selection, by the first vehicle, of an alternative reception frequency from among said at least one selected reception frequency; and - control of the radio receiver of the first vehicle to receive the listening radio station according to the selected alternative reception frequency.

[0011] The present invention stores optimal radio station reception frequencies according to geographical positions of vehicles during their journeys. The storage of these optimal reception frequencies makes it possible to predict a change in reception frequency when the power level of a radio signal received by a vehicle is too low for listening to a corresponding radio station to be satisfactory. This prediction avoids a search for an alternative reception frequency when it is necessary to change reception frequency and therefore avoids interruptions in the reception of a radio station being listened to in the vehicle.

[0012] The present invention is an advantageous solution in terms of hardware because it does not require the use of additional radio receivers for changing the reception frequency of a radio station.

[0013] According to an exemplary embodiment, several reception frequencies being selected, the selected alternative reception frequency corresponds to the selected reception frequency whose power level of the corresponding radio signal is the highest.

[0014] According to an exemplary embodiment, said first data are obtained from the first or a second vehicle at the end of a journey of the first or second vehicle.

[0015] According to an exemplary embodiment, the radio receiver is configured to receive analog or digital signals.

[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment, a reception frequency of a radio station and a power level of the corresponding radio signal are obtained from a radio frequency service box on board the first or second vehicle.

[0017] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a device for controlling a radio receiver on board a vehicle, said device comprising a memory associated with at least one processor configured for implementing at least one step of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0018] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a system for controlling a radio receiver on board a vehicle which comprises a device according to the second aspect of the present invention and a remote device comprising a memory associated with at least one processor configured for implementing at least one step of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0019] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automobile type, comprising a device for controlling a radio receiver according to the second aspect of my present invention.

[0020] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for executing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

[0021] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0022] According to a sixth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which a computer program is recorded. comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0023] On the one hand, the recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit type ROM memory, or a magnetic recording means or a hard disk.

[0024] Furthermore, this recording medium may also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention may in particular be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

[0025] Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in performing the method in question. Brief description of the figures

[0026] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 3, in which:

[0027] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an environment 1 according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a device configured for controlling a radio receiver on board a vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling a radio receiver on board a vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Description of the examples of embodiment

[0031] A method and a device for controlling a radio receiver on board a vehicle will now be described in the following with joint reference to Figures 1 to 3. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description which follows.

[0032] According to the present invention, a remote server of a first vehicle stores first data. Each first data item is representative of a reception frequency of a radio station listened to during journeys of the first and / or at least one second vehicle, of a power level of a received radio signal corresponding to said radio station listened to and of a geographical position of the first or a second vehicle at the time when said reception frequency and said power level are obtained. During a new journey, the first vehicle transmits a second piece of data to the remote device. This second piece of data is representative of a current reception frequency of a listening radio station, a current power level of the corresponding radio signal and a current geographical position of the first vehicle. The remote device then selects at least one reception frequency from among the reception frequencies of the first stored data, each selected reception frequency being an alternative to the current reception frequency of the listening radio station and the power level of the radio signal corresponding to said selected reception frequency being higher than the current power level of the radio signal.The first vehicle then receives said at least one reception frequency selected by the remote device and selects an alternative reception frequency from said at least one selected reception frequency. The vehicle's on-board radio receiver then tunes to this alternative reception frequency to receive the radio station being listened to.

[0033] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates an environment 1, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] The environment 1 comprises a vehicle 10 traveling on a traffic lane.

[0035] The vehicle 10 corresponds to a vehicle with electric motor(s) or a hybrid vehicle with a thermal engine and one or more electric motors. The vehicle 10 thus corresponds, for example, to a land vehicle, for example a car or a utility vehicle.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the vehicle 10 comprises a geolocation system comprising a receiver of a satellite geolocation system, for example a receiver of the GPS system (from the English “Global Positioning System” or in French “Système mondial de positioning”) or a receiver of the Galileo system.

[0037] The vehicle 10 also has a device 2 which corresponds to a set of computers comprising at least one computer of the vehicle (for example at least one processor of this or these computers in relation to a memory).

[0038] According to a particular embodiment, these computers form for example a multiplexed architecture for the realization of different services useful for the proper functioning of the electric vehicle 10 and / or for the realization of driving assistance systems.

[0039] The computers communicate and exchange data, for example first PI data and / or radio station reception frequencies, between them via one or more computer buses, for example a communication bus of the CAN data bus type (from the English “Controller Area Network”). » or in French « Controller Area Network »), CAN FD (from the English « Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate » or in French « Réseau de manettes à débit de données flexible »), FlexRay (according to the ISO 17458 standard), LIN (from the English « Local Interconnect Network » or in French « Réseau interconnecté local ») or Ethernet (according to the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0040] The vehicle 10 also includes a radio receiver configured to tune to a receiving frequency of a radio station.

[0041] According to an exemplary embodiment, the radio receiver is configured to receive analog signals such as FM (Frequency Modulation in English, or frequency modulation in French) or AM (Amplitude Modulation in English or amplitude modulation in French) signals or digital signals such as DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting in English, digital radio broadcasting in French) signals.

[0042] The vehicle 10 also includes a Radio Frequency Service Box (BSRF) configured to act as a gateway between a computer and the radio receiver. The BSRF can therefore provide a computer with a current reception frequency of a listening radio station and a current power level of the radio signal corresponding to the listening radio station. The BSRF can also receive from a computer a reception frequency of a radio station and instruct the radio receiver to tune to this reception frequency.

[0043] The environment 1 further comprises a mobile communication network infrastructure, for example an infrastructure of a V2X (Vehicle-to-everything) type network, with which the device 2 is configured to communicate signals. The mobile communication network infrastructure implements, for example, communications according to LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced (Long-Term Evolution - Advanced), C-V2X (Cellular - Vehicle to Everything) technology which relies on 4G and / or 5G, based on LTE.

[0044] To communicate signals with the mobile communication network infrastructure, the device 2 comprises or is linked to a communication device corresponding for example to a telematic control unit, called TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit”) associated with one or more antennas.

[0045] The communication device communicates with the mobile communication network infrastructure using a so-called V2X communication system, for example based on the 3GPP LTE-V or IEEE 802.1 Ip standards of ITS G5. In such a V2X communication system, each vehicle carries a node to enable vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and / or vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P).

[0046] The mobile communication network infrastructure comprises, for example, a communication device 110 corresponding to a relay antenna and / or a roadside unit (RU). The communication device 110 corresponds to a node of the network.

[0047] The antenna or UBR 110 is advantageously connected to one or more remote servers 111, 112, for example via the “cloud” 100 (or in French “nuage”), via a wired and / or wireless connection. According to the example of [Fig.l], the antenna or UBR 110 is configured to act as a relay between the “cloud” 100 and in particular with the remote server 111 or 112 and the device 2.

[0048] The remote server 112 associated or connected to the antenna or UBR 110 corresponds for example to a peripheral computing device, to a device of the MEC type (from the English “Mobile Edge Computing” or “Multi-Access Edge Computing”) which makes it possible to move the computing traffic and the services from the centralized “cloud” 100 to an edge network, closer to the users or client devices (for example the device 2). Instead of sending all the data to be processed in the “cloud”, an edge network analyzes, processes and / or stores the data. Collecting and processing the data close to the users reduces the latency of the communications and increases the bandwidth available for each user by avoiding the bottleneck effect when all the data is redirected to the “cloud” or emitted from the “cloud” 100.The standards governing the operation of the architecture and MEC-compatible devices are defined by ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute). The peripheral computing device 113 is connected to the cloud infrastructure 100 (for example to cloud servers 100 such as the server 112) via a wired backbone connection, for example of the Ethernet or optical fiber type.

[0049] According to a particular embodiment, the vehicle 10 carries one or more mobile communication devices such as one or more smartphones, i.e. this or these mobile communication devices are in the vehicle 10. A mobile communication device is advantageously configured to communicate signals with the “cloud” 100 (server 111, 112) via the mobile communication network infrastructure of the environment 1, for example via a wireless connection of the LTE 4G or 5G type.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the device 2 corresponds to a mobile communication device present (on board) in the vehicle 10. The device mobile communication is then configured to communicate with equipment in the mobile communication network infrastructure.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the device 2 corresponds to a system formed of one or more vehicle computers connected in wireless communication with a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device is then further configured to communicate signals with the vehicle computer(s) when a wireless or wired connection is established between this mobile communication device and this computer(s). A wireless connection is for example of the Wifi® or Bluetooth® type.

[0052] A process for controlling a radio receiver on board a vehicle 10 is now described when this process is implemented by the device 2 on board the vehicle 10.

[0053] In a first operation, first data are obtained from at least one first vehicle 10 and / or at least one second vehicle. Each first data item obtained from the first and / or a second vehicle is representative of a reception frequency FR of a radio station listened to SRE during a journey of said first and / or second vehicle, of a power level PU of a received radio signal corresponding to said radio station listened to SRE and of a geographical position PG of said first and / or second vehicle at the time when said reception frequency FR and said power level PU are obtained.

[0054] According to an exemplary embodiment, each first data item is obtained from said first and / or a second vehicle making at least one journey.

[0055] One or more vehicles may communicate with the remote device such as the server 111 or 112, to each transmit one or more first data to the remote device.

[0056] According to an exemplary embodiment, said first data are obtained from the first or a second vehicle at the end of a journey of the first or second vehicle.

[0057] According to an exemplary embodiment, a first or second vehicle periodically transmits to the remote device at least one first piece of data corresponding to a journey of the vehicle.

[0058] According to an exemplary embodiment, a reception frequency FR of a listened radio station SRE and the power level PU of the corresponding radio signal of a first data item are obtained from a BSRF on board the first or second vehicle.

[0059] According to an exemplary embodiment, the geographical position PG of the first or second vehicle is obtained from a geolocation system at the time where a receiving frequency FR and a power level PU are obtained by this vehicle.

[0060] In a second operation, one of said first data obtained is stored by a remote device if the power level of the radio signal of said first data is greater than a reference power level.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the reference power level is set so that the sound rendering of the radio stations is satisfactory.

[0062] In a third operation, the first vehicle 10 transmits to the remote device (server 111 or 112), a second data item representative of a current reception frequency FRC of a listening radio station, of a current power level NPC of the corresponding radio signal and of a current geographical position PGC of the first vehicle 10.

[0063] According to an exemplary embodiment, the first vehicle 10 transmits a second piece of data to the remote device each time the radio station changes.

[0064] In a fourth operation, the remote device selects at least one reception frequency from among the reception frequencies of the first stored data, each selected reception frequency being an alternative to the current reception frequency FRC and the power level of the radio signal corresponding to said selected reception frequency being greater than the current power level NPC.

[0065] Said at least one selected reception frequency is transmitted by the remote device to the first vehicle 10.

[0066] In a fifth operation, the first vehicle 10 selects an alternative reception frequency FRA from among said at least one selected reception frequency.

[0067] According to an exemplary embodiment, several reception frequencies being selected, the selected alternative reception frequency FRA corresponds to the selected reception frequency whose power level of the corresponding radio signal is the highest.

[0068] In a sixth operation, the BSRF of the first vehicle 10 controls the radio receiver to tune to the reception frequency FRA to receive the radio station listening according to this reception frequency FRA.

[0069] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a device configured for controlling a radio receiver on board a vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] The device 2 is configured for the implementation of at least one operation of the process described with reference to [Fig. 1] and / or at least one step of the method described with reference to [Fig. 3].

[0071] Examples of such a device 2 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as a vehicle on-board computer, an electronic calculator such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a computer. The elements of the device 2, individually or in combination, may be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and / or into discrete components. The device 2 may be implemented in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0072] The device 2 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 20 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the method and / or for executing the instructions of the software(s) embedded in the device 2. The processor 20 may include integrated memory, an input / output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 2 further comprises at least one memory 21 corresponding for example to a volatile and / or non-volatile memory and / or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

[0073] The computer code of the embedded software(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored in the memory 21.

[0074] According to various particular and non-limiting embodiments, the device 2 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and / or with communication devices, for example a TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Telematic Control Unit”), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0075] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 2 comprises a block 22 of interface elements for communicating with external devices.

[0076] According to another particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 2 comprises a communication interface 23 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as on-board computers of the first vehicle 10) via a communication channel 230. The communication interface 23 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and / or data via the communication channel 230. The communication interface 23 corresponds for example to a wired network of the CAN type (from the English “Controller Area Network” or in French “Réseau de contrôles”), CAN FD (from the English “Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate” or in French “Réseau de contrôles flexible data rate”), FlexRay (standardized by ISO 17458) or Ethernet (standardized by ISO / IEC 802-3).

[0077] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 2 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 240, touch-sensitive or not, one or more speakers 250 and / or other peripherals 260 via output interfaces 24, 25 and 26 respectively. According to a variant, one or other of the external devices is integrated into the device 2.

[0078] [Fig. 3] schematically illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling a radio receiver on board a first vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] The method is for example implemented by a device on board the first vehicle 10 or by the device 2 of [Fig.2] and a remote device such as the server 111 or 112.

[0080] In a first step 31, first data are obtained from the first and / or at least one second vehicle, each first data item being obtained from the first and / or a second vehicle being representative of a reception frequency of a radio station listened to during the journey of said first or second vehicle, of a power level of a received radio signal corresponding to said radio station listened to and of a geographical position of the first or second vehicle at the time when said reception frequency and said power level are obtained.

[0081] In a second step 32, one of said first data is stored by a remote device if the power level of the radio signal of said first data is greater than a reference power level.

[0082] Several first data can be stored by the remote device, each corresponding to a power level of the radio signal higher than the reference power level.

[0083] In a third step 33, the first vehicle 10 transmits a second piece of data to the remote device. The second piece of data is representative of a current reception frequency of a listening radio station, a current power level of the corresponding radio signal and a current geographical position of the first vehicle.

[0084] In a fourth step 34, the remote device selects at least one reception frequency from among the reception frequencies of the first stored data, each selected reception frequency being an alternative to the current reception frequency of the listening radio station and the power level of the radio signal corresponding to said selected reception frequency being greater than the current power level of the radio signal.

[0085] In a fifth step 35, the first vehicle selects an alternative reception frequency from among the reception frequency of said at least one first selected data item.

[0086] In a sixth step 36, the radio receiver of the first vehicle 10 is tuned according to the selected alternative reception frequency.

[0087] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above but extends to a method for controlling a radio receiver on board a first vehicle which would include secondary steps without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for implementing such a method.

[0088] The present invention also relates to a system for controlling a radio receiver on board the first vehicle 10, which comprises a device 2 of [Fig.2] and a remote device comprising a memory associated with at least one processor configured for implementing at least one step of the method of [Fig.3].

[0089] The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous land-based motor vehicle, comprising the device 2.

Claims

1. Claims Method for controlling a radio receiver on board a first vehicle comprising the following steps: - obtaining (31) first data from the first and / or at least one second vehicle, each first data item being obtained from the first and / or a second vehicle being representative of a reception frequency of a radio station listened to during the journey of said first or second vehicle, of a power level of a received radio signal corresponding to said radio station listened to and of a geographical position of the first or second vehicle at the time when said reception frequency and said power level are obtained; characterized in that it also comprises the following steps: - storage (32) of one of said first data by a remote device if the power level of the radio signal of said first data is greater than a reference power level; - transmission (33), by the first vehicle and to the remote device, of a second data representative of a current reception frequency of a listening radio station, of a current power level of the corresponding radio signal and of a current geographical position of the first vehicle; - selection (34), by the remote device, of at least one reception frequency from among the reception frequencies of the first stored data, each selected reception frequency being an alternative to the current reception frequency of the listening radio station and the power level of the radio signal corresponding to said selected reception frequency being greater than the current power level of the radio signal; - selection (35), by the first vehicle, of an alternative reception frequency from among said at least one selected reception frequency; and - control (36) of the radio receiver of the first vehicle to receive the radio station being listened to according to the selected alternative reception frequency, and wherein several receiving frequencies are selected, the selected alternative receiving frequency corresponds to the selected receiving frequency with the highest corresponding radio signal power level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first data is obtained from the first or a second vehicle at the end of a journey of the first or second vehicle.

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the radio receiver is configured to receive analog or digital signals.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which a reception frequency of a radio station and a power level of the corresponding radio signal are obtained from a radio frequency service box on board the first or second vehicle.

5. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, when these instructions are executed by a processor.

6. Computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to one of claims 1 to 4

7. 1 d H-. Device (2) for controlling a radio receiver on board a vehicle, said device comprising a memory associated with at least one processor configured for implementing at least one step of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

8. System for controlling a radio receiver on board a vehicle, which comprises a device according to claim 7 and a remote device comprising a memory associated with at least one processor configured for implementing at least one step of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

9. Vehicle (10) carrying a device (2) for controlling a radio receiver according to claim 7.

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