Method and device for controlling a display system associated with a connected navigation system of an electric vehicle.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for controlling a display system associated with a connected vehicle navigation system. Specifically, the method comprises selecting (41) a point of interest corresponding to an electric charging station from a human-machine interface associated with the connected navigation system, verifying (42) access rights to a connected service associated with the connected navigation system, transmitting (43) data representing an information request concerning a set of electric power sources at the point of interest to a remote server, and receiving (44) the information from the remote server. Displaying the information on a screen is then controlled (45). See Figure 5 for the abstract.

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for controlling a display system associated with a connected navigation system of an electric vehicle. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to methods and devices for controlling a display system associated with a connected navigation system of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. Technological background

[0002] To plan a journey to be made with a vehicle, it is known to use a navigation system, such a system being for example embedded in the vehicle or implemented in a mobile device, for example a mobile phone, itself embedded in the vehicle. Such a system uses map data such as digital road maps indicating the different road routes that the vehicle can take to go from point A to point B.

[0003] These map data are for example used to offer a driver the shortest, fastest, most economical route or the one that does not take a fast lane, etc. They can also be used by certain functions or driving assistance systems, called AD AS (from the English “Advanced Driver-Assistance System” or in French “Advanced Driving Assistance System”), to guide or control the vehicle in its environment to reach its destination.

[0004] Information on current traffic conditions, map updates, or weather conditions is used in particular to plan a route. Access to this information is sometimes the subject of a service provided by a service provider, for example the vehicle manufacturer or the manufacturer of the navigation system. A user has, for example, access to this information on current traffic conditions, map updates, or weather conditions via a subscription to this type of service. This is referred to as information from a connected service. The navigation system uses this information to calculate a route or announce an event on a calculated journey.

[0005] Electric vehicles must in particular obtain electrical energy along a route, for example at a charging station located along a route planned by a navigation system. Depending on the location of this charging station, the surrounding infrastructure and / or the electrical energy supplier, the production of this electrical energy differs according to a set of sources of this electrical energy. Such a source is, for example, fossil, nuclear or wind.

[0006] A user of an electric vehicle wishing to know the sources of the energy he consumes must, for example, search for this information on the internet or inquire with the manager of the charging station. Summary of the present invention

[0007] An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to improve access to information relating to the sources of electrical energy used to recharge an electric vehicle.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to control a display system associated with a connected navigation system of a vehicle in order to provide information relating to the sources of electrical energy available for recharging an electric vehicle.

[0010] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a display system associated with a connected navigation system of an electric vehicle, the display system comprising a screen, the method comprising the following steps: - selection of a point of interest corresponding to an electric energy charging station from a human-machine interface associated with the connected navigation system; - verification of a right of access to a connected service associated with the connected navigation system; - transmission of data representative of a request for information relating to a set of sources of said electrical energy at the point of interest to a remote server; - receiving information from the remote server; - control of a display of information on the screen.

[0011] Such a method makes it possible in particular to provide a user of the electric vehicle with information relating to a set of sources of electrical energy available in a charging station. The user is then aware of the origin of the electrical energy and, for example, chooses a charging station based on this information.

[0012] According to a variant of the method, the information comprises a set of values ​​expressed as a percentage, each associated with an energy source from the set of energy sources.

[0013] According to another variant of the method, the set of energy sources comprises at least one energy source from among: - thermal fuel (coal, gas, oil), - other fossils, - nuclear, - wind turbine, - solar, - hydraulic, and - other renewable energies.

[0014] According to an additional variant of the method, the verification step comprises a comparison of a value of a parameter of the connected navigation system with a target value representative of the access right.

[0015] According to another variant of the method, an address of the remote server is recorded in a memory accessible by the connected navigation system.

[0016] According to yet another variant of the method, the transmission and reception steps are implemented via a wireless link.

[0017] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a device for controlling a display system associated with a connected navigation system of an electric vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for implementing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0018] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to an electric vehicle, for example of the automobile type, comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0019] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for executing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

[0020] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0021] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0022] On the one hand, the recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit type ROM memory, or a magnetic recording means or a hard drive.

[0023] Furthermore, this recording medium may also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention may in particular be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

[0024] Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in performing the method in question. Brief description of the figures

[0025] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 5, in which:

[0026] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates an environment of an electric vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a passenger compartment of an electric vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a screen, according to a particular embodiment example and not limiting of the present invention;

[0029] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a device configured for the control of a display system associated with a connected navigation system of an electric vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] [Fig.5] illustrates a flowchart of the different stages of a control process of a display system associated with a connected navigation system of an electric vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Description of examples of implementation

[0031] A method and a device for controlling a display system associated with a connected navigation system of an electric vehicle will now be described in the following with joint reference to Figures 1 to 5. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description which follows.

[0032] The terms “first(s)”, “second(s)” (or “first(s)”, “second(s)”), etc. are used in this document by arbitrary convention to enable different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below to be identified and distinguished. Such elements may be distinct or correspond to a single element, depending on the embodiment.

[0033] According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention, the control of a display system associated with a connected navigation system of a vehicle is for example implemented by one or more processors of an on-board system of the electric vehicle.

[0034] For this purpose, the method comprises the selection of a point of interest corresponding to an electrical energy recharging station from a human-machine interface associated with the connected navigation system, the verification of a right of access to a connected service associated with the connected navigation system, the transmission of data representative of a request for information relating to a set of sources of electrical energy at the point of interest to a remote server and the reception of the information from the remote server.

[0035] A display of the information on a screen is then controlled.

[0036] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an electric vehicle and its communication environment, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] [Fig.l] illustrates an electric vehicle 10, for example a motor vehicle, in a communication environment 1, the electric vehicle 10 being for example in a road environment or on a parking area or parking lot, in a garage, etc. According to other examples, the electric vehicle 10 corresponds to a coach, a bus, a truck, a utility vehicle or a motorcycle, that is to say to a vehicle of the motorized land vehicle type.

[0038] The electric vehicle 10 corresponds for example to a vehicle with electric motor(s).

[0039] The electric vehicle 10 advantageously incorporates a communication system configured to communicate with one or more remote devices or servers 111 via a wireless communication network infrastructure.

[0040] The communication system of the electric vehicle 10 is also configured to communicate with one or more mobile communication devices 11 in direct communication mode and / or via the infrastructure of the wireless communication network. The mobile communication device 11 corresponds for example to a smartphone, a tablet or even a connected mobile object such as a connected watch, also called a smart watch (from the English “Smartwatch”).

[0041] A direct wireless communication mode is based, for example, on one of the following communication standards or protocols: - Wifi® according to IEEE 802.11, for example according to IEEE 802.1 In or IEEE 802.1 lac, for example according to a communication mode called infrastructure according to which the vehicle electric 10 acts as an access point according to an ad-hoc or direct communication mode, called Wifi Direct; - Bluetooth®; - ZigBee according to IEEE 802.15.4.

[0042] The electric vehicle 10 and / or the mobile communication device 11 are further configured to communicate with one or more remote servers 111, for example via the wireless communication network infrastructure.

[0043] The remote server(s) 111 each correspond, for example, to a server of the “cloud” 100. The wireless communication infrastructure comprises, for example, a set of communication devices of the LTE (Long Term Evolution) 4G or 5G cellular network antenna type 110.

[0044] The communication system of the electric vehicle 10 comprises, for example, one or more communication antennas connected to a telematic control unit, called TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit”), itself connected to one or more computers of the on-board system of the electric vehicle 10. The antenna(s), the TCU unit and the computer(s) form, for example, a multiplexed architecture for the realization of different services useful for the proper functioning of the vehicle and for assisting the driver and / or the passengers of the vehicle in the control of the electric vehicle 10.The computer(s) and the TCU communicate and exchange data with each other via one or more computer buses, for example a communication bus of the CAN (Controller Area Network), CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (according to the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (according to the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard) data bus type.

[0045] The electric vehicle 10 is further advantageously connected in wireless communication with a remote device such as the remote server 111 via the “cloud” 100, such a remote device being for example configured to communicate with the electric vehicle 10 according to an OTA type connection. The remote server 111 is for example configured to send data relating to a set of service stations and representative of a set of energy sources, such a set comprising, for example, the following energy sources: - thermal fuel, - other fossils, - nuclear, - wind, - solar, - hydraulic, and - other renewable energies.

[0046] The remote server 111 has an address, called a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). A URL is a character string indicating the location of a resource on the Internet and the method for accessing it; furthermore, an address defines an access path to the remote server 111 associated with a connected service.

[0047] Thus, the remote server 111 transmits a set of data to the electric vehicle 10. The transmission of the data is for example carried out at regular intervals (for example every minute, every hour, every week or every month) or when the connected navigation system connects to it, in particular by using a URL address stored in the memory of a device of the connected navigation system or a memory of a device on board the electric vehicle 10 and accessible via the communication bus, this memory is also called an “address container”.

[0048] The transmission of data from the remote server 111 is in particular restricted or subject to conditions. Indeed, not every connected navigation system has access to all the data from the remote server 111, a subscription to a connected service being required for example.

[0049] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the electric vehicle 10 incorporates, for example, in its passenger compartment, a display system comprising a screen 102 and a computer configured to control the display of content(s) of a human-machine interface, called graphic HMI on the screen 102. The computer corresponds for example to the computer of the infotainment system, called IVI computer (from the English “In-Vehicle Infotainment” or in French “Infodivertissement embargo”) of the vehicle.

[0050] The screen 102 is for example touch-sensitive and corresponds for example to a screen of the LCD type (from the English “Liquid Crystal Display” or in French “Display à cristals liquide”), for example of the TFT type (from the English “Thin-Film Transistor” or in French “Transistor en film mince”), or OLED type (from the English “Organic Light-Emitting Diode” or in French “Diode électroluminescente biologique”). The screen 102 is for example arranged in the center of the dashboard 101, for example above a central facade. Of course, the position of the screen 102 is not limited to this example, the screen being able to be arranged in any position, for example on the central facade.

[0051] The screen allows content to be displayed for the driver and passengers of the vehicle. The screen is also configured to allow the driver and / or passengers of the vehicle to interact with one or more systems embedded in the vehicle via a human machine interface (HMI) displayed on the screen 102. By For example, the screen allows the IVI system or the connected navigation system of the electric vehicle 10 to be controlled.

[0052] According to another example, as illustrated in [Fig.l], the screen 102 is not integrated into the passenger compartment but corresponds to a screen 102 of the mobile communication device 11, such as a smartphone or a tablet, connected in communication, for example wirelessly, with the on-board system of the electric vehicle 10.

[0053] A process for controlling a display system associated with a connected navigation system of the vehicle 10 is advantageously implemented by one or more processors of the connected navigation system, for example by a processor of an on-board system of the vehicle 10 or by a computer of the mobile communication device 11.

[0054] In a first operation, a point of interest corresponding to an electric energy recharging station is selected from a human-machine interface as previously described and associated with the connected navigation system.

[0055] A user, for example, makes a short press on a graphic object representing the point of interest on the screen 102, which displays a road map according to a geographical position of the electric vehicle 10. The point of interest is, for example, located close to the electric vehicle 10, for example at a distance less than a threshold distance of 1, 2 or 10 km.

[0056] In a second operation, a right of access to a connected service associated with the connected navigation system is verified. This verification is for example carried out by the computer of the connected navigation system, which accesses stored data representative of this right of access.

[0057] According to a particular exemplary embodiment, this verification comprises a comparison of a value of a parameter of the connected navigation system with a target value representative of the access right. The computer thus recovers the value of a stored parameter, for example during a third subscription operation to the connected service during which a subscription request to the connected service has been transmitted, for example to the remote server 111, via the connected navigation system.

[0058] This parameter takes for example a zero value when no subscription to the connected service has been made or when the subscription is no longer valid, for example after a certain duration such as a duration of the subscription. Conversely, when a subscription has been made, then the parameter takes the value 1. The target value representing the access right is then the value 1.

[0059] In a fourth operation, data representative of a request for information relating to a set of sources of electrical energy at the point of interest are transmitted to a remote server 111.

[0060] According to a particular exemplary embodiment, an address of the remote server 111 is in stored in a memory called an address container accessible by the connected navigation system.

[0061] Such an address container contains the addresses linked to different services, thus allowing the vehicle navigation system 10 to connect to one or more remote servers 111.

[0062] According to a particular exemplary embodiment, the address container comprises a second address defining an access path to a remote device 111 associated with the connected service, this second address acting as a backup address.

[0063] Such a second address has, for example, been previously recorded in the memory of a device of the on-board system of the vehicle 10, in the factory or during a previous visit to the dealership or workshop.

[0064] The addresses recorded in the address container are for example updated when a remote server 111 changes its address.

[0065] In a fifth operation, the required information is received from the remote server 111.

[0066] According to a particular exemplary embodiment, the transmission and reception operations are implemented via a wireless link.

[0067] According to a particular exemplary embodiment, this information relating to a charging station comprises a set of values ​​expressed as a percentage, each associated with an energy source from the set of energy sources.

[0068] In a sixth operation, a display of the information is controlled on the screen 102.

[0069] As illustrated in [Fig.3], the information is for example displayed in a part 1021 of the screen 102. Each energy source supplying the charging station is represented by a group of graphic objects comprising a first graphic object 21 representing the energy source and a second graphic object 22 representing the relative value of energy supply by this source.

[0070] According to a particular exemplary embodiment, the arrangement of the groups of graphic objects is carried out so as to present each energy source and its relative contribution according to a decreasing order of this relative contribution. Thus, a first group 23 of graphic objects comprising a first graphic object 21 and a second graphic object 22 relating to a first energy source is positioned in a direction, for example the vertical direction of the screen 102, before a second group 24 of graphic objects relating to a second energy source whose contribution is lower than that of the first energy source, itself positioned before a third group 25 of graphic objects relating to a third energy source whose contribution is lower than that of the second energy source.

[0071] A user can then easily identify the energy sources and the respective contributions of these energy sources supplying a charging station. He is then able to compare charging stations in order to choose a charging station, for example, whose environmental impact is the lowest, for example by selecting a charging station whose energy supply comes mainly from a “clean” source such as a wind energy source. The user is also able to determine an ecological impact relating to his electrical energy supply.

[0072] [Fig. 4] schematically illustrates a device 3 configured to control a trajectory of a vehicle, for example the first vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The device 3 corresponds for example to a device on board the first vehicle 10, for example a computer.

[0073] The device 3 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations described with regard to [Fig. 1] and / or the steps described with regard to [Fig. 2]. Examples of such a device 3 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as an on-board computer of a vehicle, an electronic calculator such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop. The elements of the device 3, individually or in combination, can be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and / or into discrete components. The device 3 can be produced in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0074] The device 3 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 30 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the method and / or for executing the instructions of the software(s) embedded in the device 3. The processor 30 may include integrated memory, an input / output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 3 further comprises at least one memory 31 corresponding for example to a volatile and / or non-volatile memory and / or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

[0075] The computer code of the embedded software(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored in the memory 31.

[0076] According to various particular and non-limiting embodiments, the device 3 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems (for example other computers) and / or with communication devices, for example a TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Telematic Control Unit”), for example via a communication bus. or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0077] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 3 comprises a block 32 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of the block 32 comprise one or more of the following interfaces: - RF radio frequency interface, for example Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or Bluetooth® type (according to IEEE 802.15.1), in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, or Sigfox type using UBN (Ultra Narrow Band) radio technology, or LoRa in the 868 MHz frequency band, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced; - USB interface (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or “Universal Serial Bus” in French); HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface” or “High Definition Multimedia Interface” in French); - LIN interface (from the English “Local Interconnect Network”).

[0078] According to another particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 3 comprises a communication interface 33 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system) via a communication channel 330. The communication interface 33 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and / or data via the communication channel 330. The communication interface 33 corresponds for example to a wired network of the CAN (from the English “Controller Area Network” or in French “Réseau de contrôles”) type, CAN FD (from the English “Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate” or in French “Réseau de contrôles à débit de données flexible”), FlexRay (standardized by the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (standardized by the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0079] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 3 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 340, touch-sensitive or not, one or more speakers 350 and / or other peripherals 360 (projection system) via the output interfaces 34, 35, 36 respectively. According to a variant, one or other of the external devices is integrated into the device 3.

[0080] [Fig. 5] illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling a display system associated with a connected navigation system of an electric vehicle, for example of the electric vehicle 10, according to an exemplary embodiment by particular and non-limiting aspect of the present invention. The method is for example implemented by a device of the on-board navigation system of the electric vehicle 10 or by the device 3 of [Fig.4].

[0081] In a step 41, a point of interest corresponding to an electric energy recharging station is selected from a human-machine interface associated with the connected navigation system.

[0082] In a step 42, a right of access to a connected service associated with the connected navigation system is verified.

[0083] In a step 43, data representative of a request for information relating to a set of sources of electrical energy at the point of interest are transmitted to a remote server 111.

[0084] In a step 44, the information is received from the remote server 111.

[0085] In a step 45, a display of the information is controlled on the screen 102.

[0086] According to a variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to Figures 1 to 3 apply to the process steps of [Fig.5].

[0087] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above but extends to a method for controlling a display system associated with a connected navigation system of an electric vehicle which would include secondary steps without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for implementing such a method.

[0088] The present invention also relates to an electric vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous vehicle with a land motor, comprising the device 3 of [Fig.4].

Claims

Claims

1. Method for controlling a display system associated with a connected navigation system of an electric vehicle (10), said display system comprising a screen (102), said method comprising the following steps: - selection (41) of a point of interest corresponding to an electrical energy charging station from a human-machine interface associated with the connected navigation system; - verification (42) of a right of access to a connected service associated with said connected navigation system; - transmission (43) of data representative of a request for information relating to a set of sources of said electrical energy to said point of interest to a remote server (111); - reception (44) of said information from the remote server (111); - control (45) of a display of said information on the screen (102).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said information comprises a set of values ​​expressed as a percentage each associated with an energy source of said set of energy sources.

3. Method according to claim 2, for which said set of energy sources comprises at least one energy source among: - thermal fuel, - other fossils, - nuclear, - wind, - solar, - hydraulic, and - other renewable energies.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, for which the verification step (42) comprises a comparison of a value of a parameter of the connected navigation system with a target value representative of said access right.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, for which an address of said remote server (111) is recorded in a memory accessible by said connected navigation system.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, for which the transmission (43) and reception (44) steps are implemented via a wireless link.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a step of transmitting a subscription request to said connected service via the connected navigation system.

8. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, when these instructions are executed by a processor.

9. Device (3) for controlling a display system associated with a connected navigation system of an electric vehicle, said device (3) comprising a memory (31) associated with at least one processor (30) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. Electric vehicle (10) comprising the device (3) according to claim 9.

Images