GPS GUIDANCE METHOD TO THE EXACT POSITION OF A PARKED MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

METHOD FOR GPS GUIDANCE TO THE EXACT POSITION OF A PARKED MOTOR VEHICLE The present invention relates to a method for guiding a user (4) to a parked motor vehicle (2) by means of a mobile device (8) belonging to the user, wherein said mobile device provides said user with guidance instructions to the parked motor vehicle based on GPS coordinates of said parked motor vehicle, notable in that the method includes a step of transmitting the GPS coordinates of the motor vehicle from an integrated navigation system of said motor vehicle to the mobile device while it is parked. (Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: METHOD FOR GPS GUIDANCE TO THE EXACT POSITION OF A PARKED MOTOR VEHICLE Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, more particularly to the field of motor vehicle navigation systems. Prior art

[0002] Currently, when a user parks their motor vehicle at a specific address identifiable by all navigation systems, it is possible with smartphone applications to add a marker (PIN) to indicate the position of the parked vehicle. Thus, if the user moves away from their vehicle and wishes to return, they can be guided back to it via their smartphone. This only works if the PIN is located at a point of interest (POI) or at a known address.

[0003] In a situation where the user parks in a large car park comprising several floors, for example, on the fourth floor, and he decides to indicate, as stated above, a PIN to digitally materialize the location of his vehicle on a “map” type navigation application on his smartphone, the user will be guided to the address of the car park (the general address of the latter) but he will not have the possibility of being guided exactly to the place where his vehicle is parked in the car park and even less guided to the floor of the car park on which his vehicle is located.

[0004] Current guidance solutions do not allow you to return exactly to the place where you parked your vehicle. This is also the same problem when parking in a large outdoor space, such as, for example, a temporary parking lot set up during a festive event.

[0005] Published patent document US 2017 / 0160089 A1 discloses a mobile application that records the parking position of a motor vehicle, and makes it possible to offer the user a guidance route to his vehicle based on the movements of said user detected when he left said vehicle after parking.

[0006] However, the solution proposed by the document has room for improvement, because the guidance route to the vehicle proposed to the user is solely based on detecting the movements of said user, this risks presenting a lack of precision in the guidance. Statement of the invention

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned state of the art. More particularly, the invention aims to propose a simple, efficient and economical solution allowing precise guidance of a user to the location of his parked motor vehicle.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a method for guiding a user towards a parked motor vehicle, by means of a mobile device of the user, in which said mobile device provides said user with guidance instructions towards the parked motor vehicle based on GPS coordinates of said parked motor vehicle, remarkable in that the method comprises a step of transmitting the GPS coordinates of the motor vehicle from an integrated navigation system of said motor vehicle to the mobile device during parking.

[0009] Advantageously, the GPS coordinates include the altitude of the motor vehicle.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the transmission of the GPS coordinates of the motor vehicle is done automatically upon detection of parking.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the parking is detected by cutting off the contact of the motor vehicle.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the transmission of the GPS coordinates of the motor vehicle is done wired or wirelessly, in particular by Bluetooth® connection.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the guidance instructions comprise the display of a compass pointing towards the parked vehicle.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the guidance instructions comprise displaying an altitude difference between the mobile device and the parked vehicle.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the display of an altitude difference comprises a change in color of the compass as a function of the altitude difference.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the display of an altitude difference comprises a pictogram display of the direction of the altitude difference.

[0017] The invention also relates to a computer program comprising computer-readable code instructions capable of implementing the guidance method according to the invention, when said program is executed by a computer.

[0018] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an integrated navigation system, characterized in that said motor vehicle is configured to automatically transmit GPS coordinates of the motor vehicle from the integrated navigation system to a mobile device when said motor vehicle is parked.

[0019] Advantageously, the motor vehicle is configured to execute the method of guidance according to the invention.

[0020] The measures of the invention are advantageous in that the guidance instructions allow the user to find the exact parking position of his motor vehicle, and this reliably thanks to the transmission of the GPS coordinates of the motor vehicle to the user's mobile device.

[0021] The invention further makes it possible to improve connectivity and cooperation between navigation systems integrated into motor vehicles and the mobile devices of drivers of said motor vehicles. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a scenario in which a user has parked his motor vehicle in a parking lot, said motor vehicle transmitting its GPS coordinates to a mobile device of the user so as to provide guidance instructions to said motor vehicle according to a guidance method according to the present invention;

[0023] [Fig.2] represents the user's mobile device displaying the guidance instructions to the motor vehicle obtained by means of the guidance method according to the invention. Detailed description

[0024] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a scenario in which a user 4 has parked his motor vehicle 2 on the fourth floor of a parking lot 6.

[0025] The present invention proposes a method for guiding the user 4 towards his parked motor vehicle 2, said method comprising steps which will be detailed in this description.

[0026] Advantageously, the method comprises a first step of transmitting the GPS coordinates of the motor vehicle 2 from an integrated navigation system of said motor vehicle 2 to a mobile device 8 of the user 4 during parking.

[0027] The mobile device 8 preferably being a smartphone 8 comprising a navigation application.

[0028] The transmission of the GPS coordinates of the motor vehicle 2 is done automatically as soon as parking is detected. This detection can be confirmed by switching off the ignition of the motor vehicle 2.

[0029] The GPS coordinates of the motor vehicle 2 correspond to a POI comprising the latitude and longitude specifying the precise parking address of the vehicle, and further include the altitude at which the motor vehicle 2 is located.

[0030] The vehicle can further improve the accuracy of the GPS coordinates of its parking position B transmitted to the smartphone, in particular by combining with the times the GPS coordinates determined by the integrated navigation system with telemetry data relating to the driving of vehicle 2 (distance traveled from position A to position B, measured elevation, etc.). This would make it possible to overcome a possible loss of the GPS signal, particularly in an underground car park.

[0031] The GPS coordinates (corresponding to position B in [Fig.l]) are then recorded by the integrated navigation system of the vehicle 2 and transmitted to the smartphone 8 as soon as parking of said vehicle 2 is detected.

[0032] Preferably, the transmission of the recorded GPS coordinates is done wired (via a USB type wired connection) or wirelessly. More preferably, said transmission is done wirelessly (represented by arrow 7) via a Bluetooth® connection, or via WIFI, or via a mobile telephone network (for example, 5G type).

[0033] The transmitted GPS coordinates are received and recorded by an application of the smartphone 8 comprising a GPS navigation assistant.

[0034] In this configuration, the user 4 having left his motor vehicle 2 and the parking lot 6, he will be able to easily return there thanks to precise guidance instructions towards the exact position B of the motor vehicle 2, and not only to the known address A of the parking lot 6. These guidance instructions are generated thanks to the guidance method of the present invention, advantageously by means of a computer program integrated into the smartphone and / or the integrated navigation system of the motor vehicle, and displayed on a screen of the smartphone 8, visible in [Fig.2].

[0035] [Fig.2] represents the smartphone 8 displaying on its screen the guidance instructions 10 towards the motor vehicle 2 obtained by means of the guidance method according to the invention.

[0036] The guidance instructions 10 include the display of a compass 12 pointing towards the parked vehicle (towards position B of [Fig.l]), as well as a distance 14 displayed in meters, separating the user from his motor vehicle.

[0037] Advantageously, the guidance instructions 10 also include the display of an altitude difference between the smartphone 8 and the parked vehicle, represented by one of the two pictograms (11 or 13) of the direction of the altitude difference (+ or -) depending on the configuration. The pictogram 11, 13 is preferably displayed flashing.

[0038] Preferably, the compass comprises an arrow 12.1 fixing the direction of the vehicle, this being able to change color according to the difference in altitude in order to facilitate the reading of the guidance instructions 10. For example, when the motor vehicle is at the same altitude level as the smartphone 8, then the arrow 12.1 can be gray in color, and no pictogram is displayed on the screen, and when the user has to go up or down floors, for example, of a car park, then the arrow 12.1 may be red in colour which may change to green via orange as the user approaches the correct altitude to reach the exact parking position of his motor vehicle.

[0039] In parallel with the guidance instructions 10, the navigation application of the smartphone 8 may include other data 16 relating to the motor vehicle 2, including in particular the distance of a journey traveled by the vehicle and / or the consumption and / or the remaining autonomy, etc.

[0040] It should be noted that [Fig. 1] represents only one example of a scenario for using the method of the invention among many others, the invention is therefore not limited to parking in a multi-story car park. Indeed, the guidance instructions 10 generated by means of the guidance method according to the invention can also make it possible to find the exact position of a motor vehicle parked in an underground car park, or in an outdoor parking place, or in any other parking place that may require guidance from the user.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for guiding a user (4) to a parked motor vehicle (2), by means of a mobile device (8) of the user (4), in which said mobile device (8) provides said user (4) with guidance instructions (10) to the parked motor vehicle (2) based on GPS coordinates of said parked motor vehicle (2), characterized in that the method comprises a step of transmitting the GPS coordinates of the motor vehicle (2) from an integrated navigation system of said motor vehicle (2) to the mobile device (8) during parking.

2. Guidance method according to claim 1, in which the transmission of the GPS coordinates of the motor vehicle (2) is done automatically upon detection of parking.

3. Guidance method according to claim 2, in which the parking detection is by switching off the contact of the motor vehicle (2).

4. Guidance method according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the transmission of the GPS coordinates of the motor vehicle (2) is done wired or wirelessly, in particular by Bluetooth® connection.

5. A guidance method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the guidance instructions (10) comprise the display of a compass (12) pointing towards the parked vehicle (2).

6. Guidance method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the guidance instructions (10) comprise the display of an altitude difference between the mobile device (8) and the parked vehicle (2).

7. A method of guidance according to claims 5 and 6, wherein the display of an altitude difference comprises a change in color of the compass (12) as a function of the altitude difference.

8. Guidance method according to claim 5 and one of claims 6 and 7, wherein the display of an altitude difference comprises a pictogram display (11, 13) of the direction of the altitude difference.

9. Computer program comprising computer-readable code instructions capable of implementing the guidance method according to one of claims 1 to 8, when said program is executed by a computer.

10. Motor vehicle (2) comprising an integrated navigation system, characterized in that said motor vehicle (2) is configured to automatically transmit GPS coordinates of the motor vehicle (2) from the integrated navigation system to a mobile device (8) when said motor vehicle (2) is parked.

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