Method for positioning a point of interest relative to an observer

Abstract

A method for positioning a point of interest relative to an observer comprises the steps of: determining (23, 25) the geographical positions of the point of interest and the observer; determining (27) the angle formed from the observer by the point of interest relative to north; and displaying (29) on a screen a compass including an arrow pointing towards the point of interest. A system for positioning a point of interest and a motor vehicle including the system are also described. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig 2

Description

Title of the invention: Method for positioning a point of interest relative to an observer Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for positioning a point of interest relative to an observer, a computer program product, a system for positioning a point of interest relative to an observer and a motor vehicle comprising such a system. State of the art

[0002] Currently, many electronic devices have geographic guidance applications based on digital mapping and a GNSS chip (“Geolocation and Navigation by a Satellite System”).

[0003] This is the case, in particular, for motor vehicles whose dashboard incorporates an information and entertainment screen. One of its functions is to display route guidance or a map of the vehicle's surroundings. This function comes either from the vehicle's internal electronic systems or from a "mirror" transfer of the screen of a mobile phone.

[0004] In these guidance applications, it is often proposed to search for points of interest in order to guide the vehicle towards them. Points of interest are places of any kind: tourist (monument, viewpoint, etc.) or practical (service station, parking, shop, etc.).

[0005] The point of interest can be searched for by selection from a menu or by keyword, or by pointing at a location indicated on the displayed digital map.

[0006] Once a point of interest is selected, the guidance function then suggests a route to get there.

[0007] However, this has some drawbacks, including the fact that it is not possible to select several points of interest at the same time, because then the application cannot suggest a route, unless you specify a passage order. Another drawback is that, when the application relies on a map found on the internet and the data connection is interrupted or of poor quality, then no map can be displayed, or with very long times.

[0008] There is therefore a real need for a method and a system for positioning a point of interest relative to an observer which can resolve all or part of the drawbacks mentioned above. Description of the invention

[0009] To resolve one or more of the drawbacks cited above, according to a

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[0015] first embodiment, a method for positioning a point of interest relative to an observer comprises the steps of: • determination of the geographical positions of the point of interest and the observer; • determination of the angle formed from the observer by the point of interest relative to the north; • display on a screen of a compass including an arrow pointing towards the point of interest. This way, the user can see the general direction of the point of interest relative to their position, without requiring a map. Particular features or embodiments, usable alone or in combination, are: • the point of interest or observer being mobile, the steps are repeated at regular intervals; and / or • the observer defines the point of interest in a preliminary step. In a second embodiment, a computer program comprises instructions for implementing the steps of a method as defined above during an execution of the program by a computing unit. In a third embodiment, a positioning of a point of interest relative to an observer comprises: • a calculator suitable for determining the geographical positions of the point of interest and the observer and the angle formed from the observer by the point of interest relative to north; • a screen adapted to display a compass including an arrow pointing towards the point of interest. Particular features or embodiments, usable alone or in combination, are: • the system further comprises means for capturing the point of interest; • the input means comprise a communication link with a mobile telephone such that the input of the point of interest is carried out on the mobile telephone; • the screen is adapted to display on the compass a plurality of arrows pointing to a plurality of points of interest; and / or • the screen is a screen on the dashboard of a motor vehicle. In a fourth embodiment, a motor vehicle comprises a system according to the third embodiment. Brief description of the figures

[0016] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended figures in which: • [Fig.l] represents a view of the front panel of a vehicle comprising a system for positioning a point of interest relative to an observer according to one embodiment; • [Fig.2] represents a flowchart of a positioning process of a point of interest relative to an observer according to one embodiment; and • [Fig.3] represents a presentation screen of a compass according to a mode of realization. Methods of implementation

[0017] The embodiments presented below refer to a motor vehicle, a car. However, those skilled in the art understand that these are also usable with other types of vehicle such as vans, vans, etc.

[0018] The terms “front”, “rear”, “top”, “bottom”, “transverse” are understood in relation to the vehicle.

[0019] With reference to [Fig.l], a motor vehicle 1 comprises an information and entertainment screen 3 located in the central part of the dashboard. It is thus accessible by the driver as well as by the front seat passenger. The screen 3 is preferably a touch screen for entering information.

[0020] The screen 3 is connected to a controller 5.

[0021] The controller 5 may, for example, be integrated into the control system of the vehicle 1, such as an advanced driver assistance system, commonly called AD AS (for "Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems" in English terminology) which makes all driving decisions based on the environment and the programmed destination. The motor vehicle is then referred to as an autonomous motor vehicle. But it can also be a centralized vehicle management system including, or not, driving aids.

[0022] The transfer of data between the different elements is carried out by a CAN (for “Controller Area Network” in English) or LIN (for “Local Interconnect Network” in English) type data bus.

[0023] The controller 5 is connected to a GNSS circuit 7 making it possible to know the geographical position of the vehicle 1 at any time. It is also connected to a database 9 containing maps and directories of points of interest.

[0024] It is also connected to a communication link 11 allowing it to be connected to a mobile phone. This communication link 11 can be wired, for example in the form of a USB cable (for, in English, “Universal Serial Bus”). It can also be wireless, for example using the protocol Bluetooth (registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG Inc.).

[0025] The general operation of the system is as follows, [Fig.2].

[0026] In a step 21, the user of the vehicle 1, who will also be called the observer, uses the screen 3 to enter a point of interest using one of the input means described previously. The controller 5 determines, step 23, the geographical position of the point of interest. Using the GNSS circuit 7, the controller determines, step 25, the geographical coordinates of the vehicle 1, and therefore of the observer. Steps 23 and 25 can be carried out simultaneously or one after the other, in any order.

[0027] Taking the observer's position as the origin point, the controller 5 calculates, step 27, the angle formed by geographic north — the observer — the point of interest.

[0028] Screen 3 displays, step 29, a compass on which is positioned an arrow positioned according to the angle previously calculated relative to the north of the compass to indicate the direction of the point of interest.

[0029] [Fig. 3] represents an embodiment of such a display with the compass 31 of which a first arrow 33 indicates the north and an arrow 35 indicates the direction of the point of interest.

[0030] Note: although [Fig. 3] shows a compass with north oriented towards the top of the screen, the person skilled in the art understands that the compass pivots depending on the orientation of the vehicle relative to north. Thus [Fig. 3] illustrates a situation where the vehicle is oriented towards north. It should also be noted that the use of a GNSS system makes it possible to orient the compass towards geographic north and not magnetic north as with a compass formed by a magnetic needle.

[0031] [Fig.l] illustrates a system according to certain embodiments. The breakdown presented has an educational purpose to highlight the different functions. However, it is understood that each block can be implemented using different means or their combinations, such as hardware components, software, one or more computers and / or electronic circuits. Each of the components can include at least one computer or a control-command unit. At least one memory can be included in each component. The memory can include computer program instructions or software code.

[0032] The computers can be implemented by any type of data processing device, such as a central computing unit, a signal processing processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, etc. The computers can be implemented as a single controller, or a plurality of controllers or computers.

[0033] The different modules are connected to each other by data links adapted to the environment. These can be wired or wireless.

[0034] For software, the implementation may include modules or units distributed in the form of procedures, functions, etc. The memories may be any type of storage circuit. They may be part of the processor circuit, or separate from it and connected via electrical data links. These may be non-volatile type memories, hard disks, random access memories, flash memories, etc.

[0035] Furthermore, the program instructions stored in the memory and processed by the computers can be any type of program code, for example, a compiled or interpreted program written in a suitable programming language.

[0036] The computer program instructions stored in the memory are such that, when executed by the computer, the latter carries out one or more of the steps of the methods described above.

[0037] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This should be considered as illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this description alone. Numerous alternative embodiments are possible.

[0038] In a first variant, the system allows the selection of several points of interest simultaneously. The screen is adapted so that the compass has as many arrows pointing to the points of interest as there are points of interest selected. Typically, the system allows the selection of one to five points of interest.

[0039] In a second variant, the communication link 11 allows communication between the user's mobile telephone and the system. This makes it possible to transfer the selection of points of interest to the telephone and, for example, to use the user's contact book.

[0040] In a third variant, the selected point of interest may be mobile. For example, the point of interest corresponds to a contact of the user who may be traveling. The location of this contact is carried out via the latter's mobile telephone. For example, the latter may transmit its position to the system via the user's telephone. In this situation, as in the more general situation where the vehicle 1 is traveling, the method described in relation to [Fig. 2] is repeated at regular intervals so as to update the compass.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for positioning a point of interest relative to an observer comprising the steps of: • determining (23, 25) the geographical positions of the point of interest and the observer; • determining (27) the angle formed from the observer by the point of interest relative to the north; • displaying (29) on a screen a compass comprising an arrow oriented towards the point of interest.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein, the point of interest or observer being mobile, the steps are repeated at regular intervals.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, in which the observer defines in a preliminary step the point of interest.

4. Computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium and / or executable by a processor, characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for implementing the method according to at least one of claims 1 to 3.

5. System for positioning a point of interest relative to an observer comprising: • a calculator (5) adapted to determine geographic positions of the point of interest and of the observer and the angle formed from the observer by the point of interest relative to the north; • a screen (3) adapted to display a compass comprising an arrow oriented towards the point of interest.

6. System according to claim 5, further comprising means for capturing the point of interest.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the input means comprises a communication link with a mobile telephone such that the input of the point of interest is carried out on the mobile telephone.

8. A system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the screen is adapted to display on the compass a plurality of arrows pointing to a plurality of points of interest.

9. A system according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the screen is a dashboard screen of a motor vehicle.

10. A motor vehicle comprising a system according to any one of claims 5 to 9.

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