Method for communicating the location of a motor vehicle, associated device and vehicle.

Abstract

A communication method implemented in a motor vehicle (100), the method being characterized in that it comprises the following first steps: Determining the number of persons present in the motor vehicle (100), then determining if the number of persons present in the motor vehicle (100) is equal to 1; if the number of persons present in the motor vehicle (100) is equal to 1, sharing the live geographic location of the motor vehicle with a remote device (200) via a wireless communication network (500). Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Method for communicating the location of a motor vehicle, associated device and vehicle.

[0001] The invention relates to motor vehicles.

[0002] There is a need to improve the sense of safety of motor vehicle drivers and their loved ones.

[0003] For this purpose, the invention relates to a communication method, implemented in a motor vehicle, for example by an electronic device of the motor vehicle, the method being characterized in that it comprises the following first steps: • Determination of the number of people present in the motor vehicle, then • Determination whether the number of people present in the motor vehicle is equal to 1, then • If the number of people present in the motor vehicle is equal to 1, (then) sharing of (in other words: of a) live geographical location of the motor vehicle with a remote device, via a wireless communication network (and a wireless communication module of the motor vehicle).

[0004] Thanks to the invention, a relative of a driver traveling alone can follow the driver's journey, using the remote device, a driver traveling alone being significantly more vulnerable.

[0005] For example, live geographic location sharing includes repeating (until sharing is complete) the following steps: • Determination of a first geographical location of the motor vehicle (The first location can be received from a satellite location module of the motor vehicle, for example of the so-called “GPS” type), then • Sending the first geographic location to the remote device, via the wireless communication network (and a wireless communication module of the motor vehicle).

[0006] For example, the wireless communication network is a mobile telephone network (and the wireless communication module is a mobile telephone module).

[0007] An identifier of the remote device may be stored in memory and sending or sharing may be implemented from this identifier.

[0008] According to a first embodiment, the method further comprises a step of detecting the start of a road journey of the motor vehicle, sharing the location live geographical location of the motor vehicle (or even the first stages) being conditional on the detection of the start of the vehicle's journey (in other words: the sharing of the live geographical location of the motor vehicle (or even the first stages) being implemented if the start of the vehicle's journey is detected).

[0009] For example, in this first embodiment, the method comprises a step of determining a second geographical location of the motor vehicle, and the sharing of the direct geographical location of the motor vehicle is conditional on the second location being outside a first predetermined geographical area or being on a predetermined road (or a predetermined type of road).

[0010] As a variant, in this first embodiment, the method comprises a step of determining a route, for example planned by an electronic guidance module of the motor vehicle, to a geographical destination and in which the sharing of the live geographical location of the motor vehicle is conditional on the geographical destination being outside a second predetermined geographical area.

[0011] Alternatively, the sharing of the live geographic location of the motor vehicle is unconditional or subject to other conditions.

[0012] For example, as a variant or in combination with the conditions mentioned above, the method comprises a step of determining a current time, the sharing of the live geographical location of the motor vehicle being conditional on the current time being within a predetermined range.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the method comprises a detection of an end of journey of the motor vehicle, the sharing of the live geographical location of the motor vehicle being implemented until the detection of the end of journey and then interrupted (in other words: interrupted upon detection of the end of journey).

[0014] According to one embodiment, the method may further comprise, upon detection of the end of the journey, sending a (stop) notification to the remote device, via a wireless communication network (for example a mobile telephone network).

[0015] For example, an end of journey may be detected when the motor vehicle stops moving for a determined period of time and / or is in a predetermined area and / or in an area of ​​a predetermined type (for example, in a residential area) and / or at a geographical destination of a planned route (for example, by an electronic guidance module of the motor vehicle).

[0016] Alternatively, sharing may be interrupted upon expiration of a predetermined duration.

[0017] For example: • The motor vehicle comprising seats including weight sensors in their seat, the step of determining the number of people present in the motor vehicle is implemented from data received from these weight sensors, and / or • The motor vehicle comprising seat belt attachment (or fastening) detectors, the step of determining the number of people present in the motor vehicle is implemented from data received from these attachment detectors, and / or • The motor vehicle comprising a camera (capable of filming a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle), the step of determining the number of people present in the motor vehicle is implemented from images received from the camera (for example, a neural network, trained for this, counts the number of people in the passenger compartment from the images).

[0018] Alternatively (or in combination with all or part of the three variants above), the motor vehicle comprising a microphone (in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle), the step of determining the number of people present in the motor vehicle is implemented from sounds received from the microphone (for example, a neural network, trained for this, counts the number of people in the passenger compartment from the sounds).

[0019] The invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions executable by a microprocessor or a microcontroller or a computer, to implement the steps of the method according to the invention, when it is executed by the microprocessor or the microcontroller or the computer.

[0020] The method according to the invention can be implemented by an electronic device. The invention therefore also relates to an electronic device configured to implement the steps of the method according to the invention, as well as a motor vehicle comprising the electronic device.

[0021] The characteristics and advantages of the computer program, the electronic device, and the vehicle are identical to those of the method according to the invention (without it being necessary to repeat them here).

[0022] When the electronic device, the motor vehicle (or another element) is "configured to" (or "capable of") performing or implementing a step or operation, this implies, for example, that the element comprises means for performing the step or operation. The means preferably comprise electronic means, for example a computer program, data in memory, specialized electronic circuits, wired or wireless connections, a microprocessor and / or a microcontroller.

[0023] For example, the electronic device comprises a computer program, a microprocessor and / or a microcontroller.

[0024] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent later. clearly upon reading the detailed description which follows, comprising embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which: • [Fig.l] represents an electronic device and a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention, • [Fig.2] and [Fig.3] represent a location of the motor vehicle, according to various embodiments of the invention, at a step of the method of [Fig.4], • [Fig.4] represents an implementation of the method according to the invention, according to a example of embodiment, by the electronic device and the motor vehicle of [Fig.l].

[0025] In [Fig.l], certain elements are, of course, seen through transparency. In Figures 2 and 3, to facilitate their representation, the elements and the distances between the elements are not representative of reality.

[0026] Detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

[0027] [Fig.l] represents a motor vehicle 100. The motor vehicle 100 comprises a microprocessor 110. The microprocessor 110 is connected to the following elements of the motor vehicle: • A 120 mobile phone module, • 130, 130' seat belt attachment detectors, • A satellite location module 140, for example of the so-called “GPS” type, • A 150 screen (in the vehicle cabin), • A 160 camera (capable of filming the interior of a motor vehicle).

[0028] In step S00 [Fig.4], the microprocessor 110 detects the start of a road journey of the motor vehicle 100.

[0029] According to one embodiment, shown [Fig.2], this detection comprises a step of determining a geographical location loc2 of the motor vehicle 100 and that the geographical location loc2 is outside the geographical zone zl, for example where the driver lives, and on the motorway ri.

[0030] As a variant, shown [Fig. 3], this detection comprises a step of planning (and display control by the screen 150), by an electronic guidance module of the microprocessor 110, of a route itl for the vehicle 100 to a geographical destination destl and a step of determining that the geographical destination destl is outside a second predetermined geographical zone z2, for example where the driver lives.

[0031] As a result of detecting the start of a journey: • In step S10 [Fig.4], the microprocessor 110 determines a number of persons present in the motor vehicle (100), from data received from the attachment detectors 130 and 130' (or, alternatively, from the camera 160). • In step S20 [Fig.4], the microprocessor 110 determines whether the number of people present in the motor vehicle (100) is equal to 1, and if so, the microprocessor 110: - In step S30, receives from a satellite location module 140 of the motor vehicle 100, for example of the so-called “GPS” type, a geographical location of the vehicle, - In step S40, the microprocessor 110 sends the geographical location of the motor vehicle 100 to a remote device 200 of a relative of the driver, via the mobile telephone network 500 and the mobile telephone module 120, from an identifier 111 of the remote device stored in the memory of the microprocessor 110.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the sending of the location in step S40 may be conditional on the current time being within a predetermined range, for example during the night.

[0033] The sharing of the live geographical location of the motor vehicle 100, i.e. steps S30 and S40, can be repeated until the microprocessor detects the end of the journey of the motor vehicle 100.

[0034] In step S50, the microprocessor 110 detects an end of journey of the motor vehicle 100, the sharing of the live geographical location of the motor vehicle 100 being implemented until the end of journey is detected and then interrupted in step S60.

[0035] Following detection of the end of the journey, in step S70, the microprocessor 110 sends a stop notification to the remote device 200, via the mobile telephone network 500, in order to warn the driver's relative.

[0036] For example, an end of journey can be detected when the motor vehicle 100 stops moving for a determined duration.

Claims

Claims

1. Communication method, implemented in a motor vehicle (100), the method being characterized in that it comprises the following first steps: • Determination of a number of people present (S 10) in the motor vehicle (100), then • Determination if the number of people present in the motor vehicle (100) is equal to 1 (S20), • If the number of people present in the vehicle (100) is equal to 1, sharing (S40) the live geographical location of the motor vehicle with a remote device (200), via a wireless communication network (500).

2. Communication method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of detecting the start of a road journey (S00) of the motor vehicle (100), the sharing (S40) of the live geographical location of the motor vehicle (100) being conditioned on the detection of the start of the journey of the motor vehicle (100).

3. Communication method according to claim 2 comprising a step of determining a second geographical location (loc2) of the motor vehicle (100), and in which the sharing of the direct geographical location of the motor vehicle (100) is conditional on the second location (loc2) being outside a first predetermined geographical zone (zl) or being on a predetermined road (rl).

4. Communication method according to claim 2 further comprising a step of determining a route (itl) to a geographic destination (destl) and in which the sharing of the live geographic location of the motor vehicle is conditional on the geographic destination (destl) being outside a second predetermined geographic zone (z2).

5. Communication method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a detection of an end of journey (S50) of the motor vehicle (100), the sharing of the live geographical location of the motor vehicle (100) being implemented until the detection of the end of the journey and then interrupted.

6. Communication method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein: • The motor vehicle comprising seats comprising weight sensors in their seat, the step of determining the number of people present (S 10) in the motor vehicle (100) is implemented from data received from these weight sensors, or • The motor vehicle comprising seat belt attachment detectors (130, 130'), the step of determining the number of people present (S 10) in the motor vehicle (100) is implemented from data received from these attachment detectors (130), or • The motor vehicle comprising a camera (160), the step of determining the number of people present (S 10) in the motor vehicle (100) is implemented from images received from the camera (160).

7. Computer program comprising instructions, executable by a microprocessor or a microcontroller, for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, when executed by the microprocessor or the microcontroller.

8. Electronic device (110) configured to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6

9. A motor vehicle (100) comprising the electronic device (110) according to claim 8.

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