Effective dissemination of awareness messages via an on-board navigation system in a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for managing the operation of a navigation system (2) installed in a motor vehicle (1) so as to allow the appropriate dissemination of awareness messages in accordance with applicable legislation. The invention also relates to a computer 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: Relevant dissemination of awareness messages by an on-board navigation system in a motor vehicle Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicle navigation systems. The invention relates in particular to a method for managing, by a computer device on board a motor vehicle, the operation of a navigation system on board a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a device implementing such a method, as well as a motor vehicle comprising such a device. The invention applies to motor vehicles such as land motor vehicles, in particular cars. State of the prior art

[0002] Legislation in some states now requires car manufacturers to configure on-board vehicle navigation systems so that they regularly broadcast messages aimed at raising driver awareness about alternatives to using individual vehicles and / or about eco-responsible driving behavior. To do this, authorized authorities provide manufacturers with lists of awareness messages to be broadcast.However, while the dissemination of certain awareness messages appears more relevant in certain situations (for example, there is no point in disseminating an awareness message that recommends using public transport for daily journeys while the vehicle is making a journey to an unusual distant destination), no known motor vehicle navigation system allows the dissemination of these awareness messages to be linked to a particular context of use of a motor vehicle.This lack of relevance when disseminating awareness messages may result in drivers losing interest, with the risk of producing the opposite effect to that which the legislator wanted to achieve through the legislation, which is to encourage drivers to favor other modes of transport over individual vehicles and / or to adopt eco-responsible driving behavior. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention aims to minimize this risk. In particular, it aims to provide a solution that allows a navigation system of a motor vehicle to broadcast awareness messages issued by authorities in a more relevant manner. By this means, the invention aims to contribute to the development of com eco-responsible behavior of drivers, particularly in terms of choice of mode of transport, and thus contribute to the preservation of the environment.

[0004] In order to achieve these objectives, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method for managing, by a computer device on board a motor vehicle, the operation of a navigation system on board the vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: • determine whether the dissemination of an awareness message is required; • determine data characterizing at least one piece of information relating to a specified journey; • select a particular awareness message based on said data characterizing at least one piece of information relating to a specified journey; and • cause the dissemination of the particular awareness message.

[0005] According to a variant, said information may be the distance of said journey.

[0006] According to another variant, said information may be the weather forecast during said journey.

[0007] According to yet another variant, said information may be an event occurring at the time when said journey is specified or during the completion of said journey.

[0008] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for managing the operation of a navigation system on board a motor vehicle, the device comprising an information processing unit, with one or more processors, and a data storage medium, which are configured to implement a method as described above.

[0009] 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.

[0010] According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a computer-readable medium, on which a program as described above is recorded.

[0011] According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a motor vehicle which has a device as described above. Brief description of the figures

[0012] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the appended figures, in which:

[0013] [Fig-1] is a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle according to the invention;

[0014] [Fig.2] is a functional diagram of a device according to the invention; and

[0015] [Fig.3] is a flowchart of the steps of a method according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0016] [Fig.l] shows a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. This comprises a navigation system 2 which interacts in the usual way with a satellite positioning system (e.g. GPS) in order to be able to calculate routes for journeys based on a map, and which comprises an information input interface allowing in particular a user to specify journeys or navigation settings as well as an information broadcasting interface which uses at least one screen and one loudspeaker arranged in the passenger compartment of the vehicle (not shown).

[0017] According to an advantageous alternative, the navigation system 2 interacts with a radiofrequency signal communication system 3 of the vehicle to communicate (i.e. send and receive data) with remote communicating entities by means of conventional mobile communication networks and protocols (e.g. 3 / 4 / 5G, C-V2X, ITS-G5, etc.), in order to provide at least one connected navigation functionality (e.g. weather during the journey, broadcasting of news in real time, etc.).

[0018] Furthermore, the vehicle 1 according to the invention advantageously carries a device 100 for managing the operation of a navigation system on board a motor vehicle within the meaning of the present invention, as described below, which implements a method for managing the operation of a navigation system on board a motor vehicle within the meaning of the present invention, as briefly summarized below and described in detail below.

[0019] When implementing the method, the device 100 according to the invention manages the broadcasting by the navigation system 2 of awareness messages issued by authorities according to broadcast frequency parameters which have been previously established in accordance with the legislation. Thus, when the broadcasting of such an awareness message is required, the device 100 according to the invention selects a message to be broadcast. Advantageously, this selection is carried out according to at least one piece of information relating to a specified journey. Such information may be the distance of the journey or the weather forecast during the journey. It may also be an event occurring at the time when the journey is specified or during the completion of the journey.As will be seen in detail below, this is how the device 100 according to the invention allows the dissemination of awareness messages in a more relevant manner which makes it possible to arouse the interest of drivers.

[0020] [Fig. 2] illustrates in more detail the device 100 for managing the operation of a navigation system of a motor vehicle according to the invention. It is essentially a computer device, which comprises at least one processing unit information 101, comprising 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.

[0021] 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 (e.g. CAN, Ethernet, MOST) - shown in [Fig.l] by the two-way arrows - with the navigation system 2, the latter possibly interacting with the radiofrequency signal communication system 3 in order to provide a connected navigation functionality. Alternatively, the device 100 according to the invention is partially or fully part of the navigation system 2. As a result, it can, in particular, determine at least one item of information relating to a specified journey and it can cause the broadcasting of an awareness message in an audible and / or visual manner.

[0022] According to the invention, all the elements described above contribute to enabling the implementation of a method for managing the operation of a navigation system on board a motor vehicle, as described below in connection with [Fig.3],

[0023] [Fig. 3] illustrates by means of a flowchart the steps of the method 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 the broadcasting of an awareness message is required. To do this, it preferentially uses data characterizing one or more parameters which specify the frequency of broadcasting such messages in accordance with legislation of a territory of residence of the vehicle 1 which were recorded on the data storage medium 102 at the time of design of the vehicle 1. Alternatively, it interacts with the navigation system 2 and / or the radiofrequency signal communication system 3 in order to obtain such data from a remote communicating entity which is administered by an authority authorized to stipulate such parameters.According to one example, such a parameter may specify that the broadcasting of an awareness message must occur at least once a day or every five journeys programmed in the navigation system 2. And when it establishes that the broadcasting of an awareness message is required, the device 100 according to the invention then proceeds by carrying out the following steps of the method according to the invention described below.

[0024] According to a second step 202 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention determines data characterizing at least one piece of information relating to a specified journey. Depending on whether the navigation system 2 interacts or not with the system of communication by radiofrequency signals 3, such information is preferably the distance of the journey. In other words, the device 100 according to the invention determines during this second step 202 the distance of the journey that the driver has specified by means of the information entry interface of the navigation system 2. According to one example, the device 100 according to the invention determines whether this distance is less than or greater than 100 km. Alternatively, when the navigation system 2 interacts with the communication system by radiofrequency signals 3 to provide a connected navigation functionality, the information determined during this second step 202 may be the weather forecast during the journey, or an event taking place at the time when the journey is specified or during the completion of the journey, for example a news item.Thus, at the end of this second step 202, the device 100 according to the invention has advantageously established at least one piece of information capable of enabling the selection of an awareness message to be broadcast in a more relevant manner.

[0025] Indeed, according to a third step 203 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention advantageously proceeds by selecting a particular awareness message as a function of said data characterizing at least one piece of information relating to a specified journey determined during the previous step of the method. To do this, the device 100 according to the invention preferentially accesses a list of messages to be broadcast which was recorded on its data storage medium 102 at the time of design of the vehicle 1. Alternatively, the list of awareness messages is obtained in real time from a remote communicating entity.

[0026] In the case where the navigation system 2 does not interact with the radiofrequency signal communication system 3 and when the device 100 according to the invention has established that the distance of the journey is less than 100 km, it selects for example randomly one of the messages contained in the list. On the contrary, when it has established that the distance of the journey is greater than 100 km, the device 100 according to the invention proceeds by removing from its selection at least one message which recommends the use of public transport. Such a mode of transport is in fact of no interest to the driver when he is traveling to an unusual distant destination. On the contrary, the selection of a message reminding that a lower speed generates fewer CO2 emissions is more relevant in the context of a long-distance journey.

[0027] Similarly, when the navigation system 2 interacts with the radio frequency signal communication system 3 to provide a connected navigation functionality, and when the device 100 according to the invention has for example established during the previous step of the method that the weather during the journey is rainy while the distance of the specified journey is less than 100 km, it discards from the selection an awareness message recommending the use of a bicycle, which is of no interest given the forecast weather.

[0028] Similarly, when it has established that the distance of the journey is less than 100 km and that an event such as a public transport strike takes place at the time when the journey is specified or during its execution, the device 100 according to the invention then excludes from the selection an awareness message which recommends the use of public transport, to possibly then select as a particular message an awareness message which recommends the use of a bicycle.

[0029] Thus, at the end of this third step 203 of the method, the device 100 according to the invention has advantageously selected a particular awareness message which is relevant taking into account the current context of use of the vehicle, in particular the distance of a journey in progress, possibly the weather and / or an event taking place at the time when the journey is specified or during its execution.

[0030] Finally, according to a fourth step 204 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention causes the broadcasting of the particular message selected during the previous step. To do this, it interacts with the navigation system 2, the latter proceeding to broadcast the message by means of its information broadcasting interface in an audible and / or visual manner.

[0031] Consequently, thanks to the method and the device according to the invention described above, a navigation system of a motor vehicle is enabled to broadcast awareness messages issued by authorities in a more relevant manner. This provides a way of participating more effectively in the development of eco-responsible behaviors of drivers, in particular in terms of choice of mode of transport, which promote the preservation of the environment.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for managing, by a computer device (100) on board a motor vehicle (1), the operation of a navigation system (2) on board the vehicle, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: • determining whether the broadcasting of an awareness message is required; • determining data characterizing at least one piece of information relating to a specified journey; • selecting a particular awareness message based on said data characterizing at least one piece of information relating to a specified journey; and • causing the broadcasting of the particular awareness message.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said information is the distance of said path.

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said information is the weather forecast during said journey.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said information is an event taking place at the time when said journey is specified or during the completion of said journey.

5. Device (100) for managing the operation of a navigation system (2) on board a motor vehicle (1), characterized in that said device comprises an information processing unit (101), with one or more processors, 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. Computer-readable medium, characterized in that a program according to claim 6 is recorded therein.

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

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