Management of the operation of a motor vehicle navigation system for the broadcasting of parking information in augmented reality

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for managing the operation of a navigation system (2) of a motor vehicle (1) for the rendering of scenes in augmented reality, in particular in connection with parking in parking areas subject to the presentation of a parking disc. 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: Management of the operation of a navigation system of a motor vehicle for the broadcasting of parking information in augmented reality 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 the operation of a motor vehicle navigation system, the navigation system comprising a camera arranged to take pictures of the environment of the vehicle so as to enable the real-time broadcasting of an augmented reality scene of said environment on a screen of the navigation system. 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] It is known that the navigation system of certain modern motor vehicles allows the real-time broadcasting of an augmented reality scene of the vehicle's environment. To do this, a camera is used to take pictures of the driving environment and the scene of the driving environment is rendered in real time on the screen of the navigation system. In addition, in order to enhance the informative content thus provided to the driver, indicative arrows are generally embedded in the scene to indicate a direction to follow. However, these are the only informative elements that have been considered to date. Consequently, such navigation systems still remain deficient in terms of ergonomics given their limited capacity to be able to effectively assist a driver in the driving activity, in particular by providing him with relevant information relating to the parking of his vehicle. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention aims to fill this gap. In particular, it aims to provide a solution for easily and ergonomically informing the driver of a motor vehicle about parking areas subject to the presentation of a parking disc, in particular by means of a navigation system on board the vehicle. In this way, the invention aims to maximize the ergonomics of vehicles, in particular in terms of their ability to provide drivers with relevant information to thus encourage the implementation of behaviors of driving in accordance with the highway code.

[0004] In order to achieve these aims, 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 of the vehicle, the navigation system comprising a camera arranged to take pictures of the environment of the vehicle so as to allow the real-time broadcasting of a scene in augmented reality of said environment on a screen of the navigation system, the method comprising the steps of: • determine whether the vehicle is entering or leaving a parking area subject to the presentation of a parking disc; and, where it is established that this is the case, • cause the insertion into said scene of visual content established according to whether the vehicle enters or leaves said parking zone.

[0005] According to a variant, said visual content may contain a geometric shape.

[0006] According to another variant, said visual content may contain a pictogram.

[0007] According to yet another variant, said pictogram can be established according to the current time and a pre-established authorized parking duration.

[0008] According to yet another variant, when it is established that the vehicle enters said parking zone, said visual content may contain a geometric shape and a first pictogram, said shape and / or said first pictogram being embedded in said scene according to a location corresponding to the entrance to said parking zone.

[0009] According to yet another variant, when it is established that the vehicle is leaving said parking zone, said visual content may contain said shape and a second pictogram, said shape and / or said second pictogram being embedded in said scene depending on a location corresponding to the exit from said parking zone.

[0010] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for managing the operation of a navigation system of a motor vehicle, the navigation system comprising a camera arranged to take pictures of the environment of the vehicle so as to allow the real-time broadcasting of a scene in augmented reality of said environment on a screen of the navigation system, 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.

[0011] 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.

[0012] According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a computer-readable medium on which a program as described above is recorded.

[0013] According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising an on-board navigation system and which incorporates a device as described above. Brief description of the figures

[0014] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the appended figures, in which:

[0015] [Fig-1] is a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle according to the invention;

[0016] [Fig.2] is a functional diagram of a device according to the invention;

[0017] [Fig.3] is a flowchart of the steps of a method according to the invention;

[0018] [Fig.4] illustrates the implementation of at least one step of the method according to the invention; and

[0019] [Fig.5] illustrates the implementation of at least one step of the method according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0020] [Fig.l] shows a schematic illustration of a vehicle 1 according to the invention. This comprises an on-board navigation system 2, which conventionally interacts with a satellite positioning system (e.g. GPS, Galileo, Beidou) and which comprises a camera 3 arranged to take pictures of the environment of the vehicle 1 so as to enable the real-time broadcasting of an augmented reality scene of the environment of the vehicle on a screen 4 of the navigation system 2.

[0021] Advantageously, the vehicle 1 according to the invention also carries a device 100 for managing the operation of a navigation system of 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 of a motor vehicle within the meaning of the present invention, as briefly summarized below and described in detail below.

[0022] When implementing the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention determines whether the vehicle 1 enters or leaves a parking zone subject to the presentation of a parking disc, commonly known by the terminology “blue zone”. And if it establishes that this is the case, it then causes the overlaying of visual contents within an augmented reality scene broadcast in real time on the screen 4 of the navigation system 2 which are established according to whether the vehicle enters or leaves such a parking zone. If it establishes in particular that the vehicle 1 enters the parking zone, it is a visual content which informs the entrance to the parking zone and an authorized parking duration which is embedded in the scene. Conversely, if vehicle 1 leaves the parking area, visual content informing about the exit from the parking area is embedded in the scene. This is how navigation system 2 is more ergonomic, particularly in terms of its ability to provide relevant information about certain specific parking areas.

[0023] In [Fig. 2] is illustrated 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 information processing unit 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.

[0024] 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 arrows - with the navigation system 2, in particular with its screen 4. Alternatively, the device 100 according to the invention is partially or fully part of the navigation system 2. Thanks to these means, the device 100 according to the invention is advantageously capable, in particular, of determining whether the vehicle 1 enters or leaves a parking zone subject to the presentation of a parking disc and of causing the overlay of visual content established according to whether the vehicle enters or leaves said parking zone in an augmented reality scene broadcast in real time on the screen 4 of the navigation system 2.

[0025] 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 of a motor vehicle, the navigation system comprising a camera arranged to take pictures of the environment of the vehicle so as to enable the real-time broadcasting of an augmented reality scene of said environment on a screen of the navigation system, as described below in connection with Figures 3-5.

[0026] [Fig. 3] illustrates by means of a flowchart the steps of the method according to the invention.

[0027] According to a first step 301 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention determines whether the vehicle is entering or leaving a parking zone subject to the presentation of a parking disc. To do this, it preferentially uses the mapping of the navigation system 2. Alternatively, it interacts with a driving assistance system of the vehicle which provides a re functionality knowledge of traffic signs. Thus, in this first step of the method, the device 100 according to the invention advantageously seeks to establish these usual situations in which a driver enters or leaves a parking zone subject to the presentation of a parking disc. And if it establishes that the vehicle enters or leaves an area subject to the presentation of a parking disc, the device 100 according to the invention carries out the following step of the method according to the invention described below.

[0028] According to a second step 302 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention causes the incrustation in the augmented reality scene which is broadcast in real time on the screen 4 of the navigation system 2 of a visual content established according to whether the vehicle enters or leaves said parking zone. Preferably, the visual content which is thus incrusted contains a geometric shape. Alternatively or cumulatively it contains a pictogram. According to an exemplary embodiment the pictogram is established according to the current time and a pre-established authorized parking duration (eg 1h30).

[0029] According to another exemplary embodiment, when the device 100 according to the invention has established during the previous step that the vehicle is entering the parking zone, the visual content contains a geometric shape and a first pictogram, the shape and / or the first pictogram being embedded in the scene according to a location corresponding to the entrance to the parking zone. Conversely, when it has established that the vehicle 1 is leaving the parking zone, the visual content contains the shape and a second pictogram, the shape and / or said second pictogram being embedded in the scene according to a location corresponding to the exit from the parking zone. For greater clarity, these two situations are illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

[0030] [Fig. 4], which corresponds to a situation in which the vehicle 1 enters a parking zone subject to the presentation of a parking disc, shows a scene 401 in augmented reality of the environment of the vehicle 1 as it is displayed on the screen 4 of the navigation system 2. We can see the geometric shape 402 in an inverted U to visually materialize a gantry, a first pictogram 403 and a second pictogram 404 which are embedded in the scene 401 by the device 100 according to the invention. Advantageously, the shape 402 is arranged at a location in the scene 401 which corresponds to the entrance to the parking zone. In addition, the second pictogram 404 advantageously provides information on the authorized parking duration (or a parking time limit).The driver is thus informed in the most ergonomic way not only about the fact that he is entering a parking zone subject to the presentation of a parking disc, but also about the parking duration that applies there.

[0031] Conversely, [Fig. 5], which corresponds to a situation in which the vehicle 1 leaves a parking zone subject to the presentation of a parking disc, shows a scene 501 in augmented reality of the environment of the vehicle 1 as it is displayed on the screen 4 of the navigation system 2. The same geometric shape 502 in an inverted U can be seen to visually materialize a gantry and a pictogram 503 which are embedded in the scene 501 by the device 100 according to the invention. Advantageously, the shape 502 is arranged at a location in the scene 501 which corresponds to the exit from the parking zone. In addition, the pictogram 503 advantageously reproduces a traffic sign indicating the end of a parking zone subject to the presentation of a parking disc.The driver is thus informed in the most ergonomic way about the fact that he is leaving a parking zone subject to the presentation of a parking disc.

[0032] Consequently, thanks to the method and device according to the invention described above, a solution is provided for easily and ergonomically informing the driver of a motor vehicle about the parking areas subject to the presentation of a parking disc, in particular by means of a navigation system on board the vehicle. In this way, the invention maximizes the ergonomics of vehicles, in particular in terms of their ability to provide drivers with relevant information which promotes the implementation of driving behaviors in accordance with the highway code.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for managing, by a computer device (100) on board a motor vehicle (1), the operation of a navigation system (2) of the vehicle (1), the navigation system (2) comprising a camera (3) arranged to take pictures of the environment of the vehicle so as to allow the real-time broadcasting of an augmented reality scene (401, 501) of said environment on a screen (4) of the navigation system (2), characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: • determining whether the vehicle (1) enters or leaves a parking zone subject to the presentation of a parking disc; and, when it is established that this is the case, • causing the overlay in said scene (401, 501) of visual content established according to whether the vehicle (1) enters or leaves said parking zone.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said visual content contains a geometric shape (402, 502).

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said visual content contains a pictogram (403, 404, 503).

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that said pictogram (403) is established as a function of the current time and a pre-established authorized parking duration.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when it is established that the vehicle (1) enters said parking zone, said visual content contains a geometric shape (402) and a first pictogram (403, 404), said shape and / or said first pictogram being embedded in said scene (401) according to a location corresponding to the entrance to said parking zone.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that, when it is established that the vehicle (1) leaves said parking zone, said visual content contains said shape (502) and a second pictogram (503), said shape and / or said second pictogram being embedded in said scene (501) according to a location corresponding to the exit from said parking zone.

7. Device (100) for managing the operation of a na- vigation (2) of a motor vehicle (1), the navigation system (2) comprising a camera (3) arranged to take pictures of the environment of the vehicle (1) so as to allow the real-time broadcasting of an augmented reality scene (401, 501) of said environment on a screen (4) of the navigation system (2), 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.

8. A computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 when said program is executed by at least one processor.

9. Computer-readable medium, characterized in that a program according to claim 8 is recorded therein.

10. Motor vehicle (1) comprising a navigation system (2) which comprises a camera (3) arranged to take pictures of the environment of the vehicle so as to allow the real-time broadcasting of an augmented reality scene (401, 501) of said environment on a screen (4) of the navigation system (2), characterized in that said vehicle (1) carries a device (100) according to claim 7.