Controlling a dash cam-type monitoring feature via a touchscreen on a motor vehicle's human-machine interface

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for managing the control, by means of a touchscreen (4) of a human-machine interface of a motor vehicle (1), of a monitoring function of the vehicle's driving environment using a camera (3) mounted on board the vehicle and interacting with a driver assistance system (2) of the vehicle to provide at least a parking assistance function. The invention also relates to a device (100) implementing such a method, as well as a motor vehicle (1) comprising such a device. Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Management of the control of a “dash cam” type surveillance functionality by means of a touch screen of a human-machine interface of a motor vehicle Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of human-machine interfaces for motor vehicles. The invention relates in particular to a method for managing the control by means of a touch screen of a human-machine interface of the vehicle of a functionality for monitoring the driving environment of the vehicle using a camera on board the vehicle and interacting with a driving assistance system of the vehicle to provide at least one parking assistance functionality using the screen. The invention also relates to a device implementing such a method, as well as a motor vehicle carrying such a device. The invention applies to motor vehicles such as land motor vehicles, in particular cars. State of the prior art

[0002] Some modern motor vehicles are equipped with a driver assistance system that provides parking assistance functionality, using a camera to take pictures of the vehicle's surroundings and a screen arranged in the passenger compartment that allows the driver to view the surroundings of the vehicle. In addition, legal requirements in certain territories require that the driver assistance system of any new vehicle marketed provide driver attention monitoring functionality, which is implemented by using a camera that films the driver while driving and software components configured to detect a drop in the driver's attention.To inform the driver about the operation of this type of functionality, some manufacturers have chosen to configure the vehicles' human-machine interfaces so that a pictogram is displayed within the graphical interface broadcast on a screen arranged in the passenger compartment, for example in one color when the functionality is active, another when it is inactive and intermittently when the functionality is on standby or unavailable. In addition, there are situations in which drivers may wish to store video sequences of the environment around their vehicle, in particular when they are victims or witnesses of criminal driving behavior by other drivers.

[0003] To satisfy this desire, we find on the market what are called "dash cams", which are nothing other than cameras configured to film continuously and incrementally store video sequences, possibly with the ability to detect abnormal events characteristic of an accident (e.g., impacts, sudden deceleration, swerving, etc.). However, apart from dash cams, which must be installed by each vehicle owner, no other solution is currently available to allow a driver to store video sequences of their vehicle's surroundings on the fly, in an easy and practical manner. From this point of view, the human-machine interfaces of motor vehicles suffer from a deficiency in terms of their ergonomics. Summary of the invention

[0004] The invention seeks to solve this problem. In particular, it aims to provide a solution to enable a driver to store a video sequence of the environment of his vehicle at any time, in a simple and practical manner, in particular without the need to install any additional equipment. In this way, the invention aims to improve the ergonomics of human-machine interfaces in motor vehicles.

[0005] In order to achieve these aims, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method for managing, by a computer device on board a motor vehicle, the control by means of a touch screen of a human-machine interface of the vehicle of a functionality for monitoring the driving environment of the vehicle using a camera on board the vehicle and interacting with a driving assistance system of the vehicle to provide at least one parking assistance functionality using the screen, the method comprising the steps of: i. determining whether a press is made at the level of a pictogram relating to a functionality for monitoring the driver's attention provided by a driving assistance system of the vehicle which is displayed on the screen; and, when it is established that this is the case, ii. cause the activation of continuous video recording, the storage of a video sequence or the broadcasting on the screen of at least one previously stored video sequence depending on the type of support and the kinetics of the vehicle at the current time.

[0006] According to a variant, step ii) may comprise a step consisting of causing the activation of a continuous video recording as soon as it is established that a first long press is made at the level of said pictogram (5) while the vehicle is moving.

[0007] According to another variant, step ii) may comprise a step consisting of causing the storage of a video sequence of a predefined duration as soon as it is established that a second long press is made at the level of said pictogram consecutively said first support while the vehicle is moving.

[0008] According to yet another variant, step ii) may comprise a step consisting of causing the broadcasting on the screen of at least one previously stored video sequence as soon as it is established that the vehicle is stationary.

[0009] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for managing the control by means of a touch screen of a human-machine interface of a motor vehicle of a functionality for monitoring the driving environment of the vehicle using a camera on board the vehicle and interacting with a driving assistance system of the vehicle to provide at least one parking assistance functionality using the screen, the device comprising at least one information processing unit, comprising at least one processor, and a data storage medium, which are configured to implement a method as described above.

[0010] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of a method as described above when said program is executed by at least one processor.

[0011] According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a medium usable in a computer on which a program as described above is recorded.

[0012] According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a device as described above. Brief description of the drawings

[0013] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the appended drawings, in which:

[0014] [Fig-1] is a diagram illustrating a motor vehicle according to the invention;

[0015] [Fig.2] is a functional diagram of a device according to the invention; and

[0016] [Fig.3] is a flowchart of the steps of a method according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0017] In [Fig.l] a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention is schematically illustrated. This is conventionally equipped with a driving assistance system 2, which conventionally provides a parking assistance functionality by using a camera 3 in order to allow the driver to view the environment of the vehicle on a screen 4 of a human-machine interface of the vehicle. On this touch screen 4 is also displayed a pictogram 5 which allows the driver to become aware of an operating state of a driver attention monitoring functionality provided by the driving assistance system 2. The vehicle 1 according to the invention is also conventionally equipped with a gearbox 6, preferably automatic, and a parking brake 7, preferably electric. Advantageously, it also includes a device 100 for managing the control by means of a touch screen of a human-machine interface of a motor vehicle of a functionality for monitoring the driving environment of the vehicle using a camera on board the vehicle and interacting with a driving assistance system of the vehicle to provide at least one parking assistance functionality using the screen within the meaning of the present invention, as described below,which implements a method for managing the control by means of a touch screen of a human-machine interface of a motor vehicle of a functionality for monitoring the driving environment of the vehicle using a camera on board the vehicle and interacting with a driving assistance system of the vehicle to provide at least one parking assistance functionality using the screen within the meaning of the present invention, as briefly summarized below and described in detail below.

[0018] When implementing the method, the driver can, depending on the situation, activate a continuous recording of the environment of the vehicle 1, store a video sequence or cause the display of previously stored video sequences, and this in a manner that could not be easier since it consists of simply pressing the pictogram 5 which provides information on the operating status of the driver attention monitoring functionality which is displayed on the screen 4 of the human-machine interface of the vehicle 1. As will be seen below, it is in this way that the invention contributes to an improvement in the ergonomics of the human-machine interface of the vehicle 1 according to the invention by allowing the same main functions as those provided by a traditional dash cam.

[0019] The device 100 according to the invention is illustrated in [Fig. 2]. It is essentially a computer device, which comprises at least one information processing unit 101, with one or more processors, a data storage medium 102, on which is recorded in particular a program which comprises program code instructions for the execution of the steps of the method according to the invention described below, and an input and output interface 103 allowing the reception and transmission of data.

[0020] Preferably, the device 100 according to the invention is integrated into an independent computer and it interacts via its input and output interface 103 and by means of a wired communication network of the vehicle (eg CAN, Ethernet, MOST) - shown in [Fig.l] by the two-way arrows - with the driving assistance system 2, with the camera 3, directly or via the driving assistance system 2, with the human-machine interface of the vehicle, in particular the screen 4 that it includes, with the gearbox 6 and with the parking brake 7. Alterna tively, the device 100 according to the invention is partially or fully part of the human-machine interface of the vehicle. Consequently, the device 100 according to the invention can, in particular, determine whether a press has been made at the pictogram 5 which is displayed on the screen 4, it can cause the broadcasting of visual content on the screen 4 and it can determine the kinetics of the vehicle (i.e. whether it is stationary or moving).

[0021] According to the invention, all the elements described above combine to enable the implementation of a method for managing the control by means of a touch screen of a human-machine interface of a motor vehicle of a functionality for monitoring the driving environment of the vehicle using a camera on board the vehicle and interacting with a driving assistance system of the vehicle to provide at least one parking assistance functionality using the screen, as described below in connection with Figures 1 and 3.

[0022] [Fig.3] illustrates in the form of a flowchart the steps of the process according to the invention. According to a first step 201 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention determines whether a press has been made at the pictogram 5 relating to the functionality for monitoring the driver's attention which is displayed on the screen 4. In other words, the device 100 according to the invention constantly monitors whether a press, for example a press of a finger, is made on the pictogram 5, as illustrated schematically by means of the hand illustrated in [Fig.l]. To do this, the device 100 according to the invention preferentially interacts with the human-machine interface of the vehicle. Alternatively, it interacts directly with the screen 4. Thus, thanks to this first step 201 of the method, the control of the functionality for monitoring the driving environment of the vehicle is advantageously possible in an extremely simple manner since it consists for the driver in making a simple press on the pictogram 5.And when it establishes that such support has been carried out, the device 100 according to the invention proceeds by carrying out the following step of the method according to the invention described below.

[0023] According to a second step 202 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention causes the activation of a continuous video recording, the storage of a video sequence or the broadcasting on the screen of at least one previously stored video sequence depending on the type of support and the kinetics of the vehicle at the current time.

[0024] More specifically, when it establishes that a first long press is made at the level of said pictogram 5 while the vehicle is moving, by interacting for this purpose with the human-machine interface 3 and the driving assistance system 2, possibly with the gearbox 6 and / or the parking brake 7, the device 100 according to the invention causes the activation of a continuous video recording, in other words it triggers the monitoring of the vehicle's driving environment. Alternatively, it also causes the broadcast on the screen 4 of visual content indicating the activation of the monitoring of the vehicle's driving environment, for example in the form of text. Thus, a user can easily trigger the monitoring of the vehicle's driving environment with a long press on the pictogram 5.

[0025] Then, when it establishes that a second long press is made at the pictogram 5 following the first press while the vehicle is still moving, the device 100 according to the invention causes the storage on its data storage medium 102 of a video sequence of a predefined duration (eg 10 min). As a variant, it also causes the broadcasting on the screen 4 of a visual content indicating the storage of a sequence, for example in the form of text. Thus, a user can easily store a video sequence of the driving environment of the vehicle from another long press made at the pictogram 5.

[0026] On the contrary, when it establishes that the vehicle is stationary, by establishing for example that the gearbox 6 is in the parking position or, in the case of a manual gearbox, in the neutral position while the parking brake 7 is engaged, and / or by interacting with the driving assistance system 2, the device 100 according to the invention causes the broadcasting on the screen 4 of at least one previously stored video sequence. It thus offers a viewing capacity, similar to that provided by the video viewing galleries of most traditional dash cams. Thus, a user can take advantage of a rest period to view on the screen 4 one or more video sequences that have been previously stored.

[0027] Thus, thanks to this second step 202 of the method, the main functions of a traditional dash cam are provided by the device 100 according to the invention.

[0028] Consequently, thanks to the method and the device according to the invention described above, a solution is provided to allow a driver of a motor vehicle to be able to memorize on the fly one or more video sequences of the environment of his vehicle, and this, in a manner which could not be simpler and more practical, in particular without needing to install any additional equipment. By these means, the invention therefore significantly improves the ergonomics of the human-machine interfaces of motor vehicles in terms of monitoring their environment during driving.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for managing, by a computer device (100) on board a motor vehicle (1), the control by means of a touch screen (4) of a human-machine interface of the vehicle of a functionality for monitoring the driving environment of the vehicle using a camera (3) on board the vehicle and interacting with a driving assistance system (2) of the vehicle to provide at least one parking assistance functionality using the screen (4), characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: i. determining whether a press is made at the level of a peak togram (5) relating to a functionality for monitoring the driver's attention provided by a driving assistance system (2) of the vehicle which is displayed on the screen (4); and, when it is established that this is the case, ii.cause the activation of continuous video recording, the storage of a video sequence or the broadcasting on the screen of at least one previously stored video sequence depending on the type of support and the kinetics of the vehicle at the current time.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that step ii) comprises a step of causing the activation of a continuous video recording as soon as it is established that a first long press is made at the level of said pictogram (5) while the vehicle is moving.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that step ii) comprises a step of causing the storage of a video sequence of a predefined duration as soon as it is established that a second long press is made at the level of said pictogram following said first press while the vehicle is moving.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that step ii) comprises a step consisting of causing the broadcasting on the screen of at least one previously stored video sequence as soon as it is established that the vehicle is stationary.

5. Device (100) for managing the order by means of a touch screen (4) of a human-machine interface of a motor vehicle (1) of a functionality for monitoring the driving environment of the vehicle using a camera (3) on board the vehicle and interacting with a driving assistance system (2) of the vehicle to provide at least one parking assistance functionality using the screen (4), characterized in that the device comprises at least one information processing unit (101), comprising at least one processor, and a data storage medium (102), which are configured to implement a method according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. A computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 when said program is executed by at least one processor.

7. Support usable in a computer, characterized in that a program according to claim 6 is recorded therein.

8. Motor vehicle (1), characterized in that it comprises a device (100) according to claim 5.

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