Securing the driving of a motor vehicle when making recurring journeys

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for making the driving of a motor vehicle (1) safer when making recurring journeys according to speed limits that the user of the vehicle can specify by means of a remote or on-board input interface on board the vehicle (1). The invention also relates to a computer system (100) implementing such a method. Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Securing the driving of a motor vehicle when making recurring journeys Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of systems for facilitating and making the driving of motor vehicles safer. The invention relates in particular to a method for making the driving of a motor vehicle safer. The invention also relates to a computer system implementing such a method. The invention applies to motor vehicles such as land motor vehicles, in particular cars. State of the prior art

[0002] It is known that certain driving situations are more accident-prone than others. Among the reasons for this, we note that a phenomenon of habituation generally appears in a driver who repeatedly makes the same journey and that this can lead to a progressive decrease in his vigilance over the successive completions of the journey. Thus, a driver who is used to making a journey frequently may in particular gradually become less attentive to strict compliance with the speed limits that apply at the various points of the journey, and thus considerably increase his risk of accident.

[0003] It is also known that the driver assistance systems of certain modern vehicles provide a traffic sign recognition functionality which can in certain cases be coupled with the cruise control to enable the vehicle's speed to be controlled according to the speed limits which are detected by means of an on-board camera. However, the main drawback of this type of functionality lies in the need for the driver to validate on a case-by-case basis and in real time the taking into account of a speed limit sign which is detected so that the speed limit is applied as the regulator's set speed. It is then conceivable that a driver may lack vigilance or availability so that the validation of a speed limit is not carried out, and that driving safety is consequently immediately degraded.Thus, known driver assistance systems are still deficient in terms of ergonomics when it comes to facilitating compliance with speed limits during a journey, which results in a relative, or even reduced, capacity to optimally ensure driving safety. Summary of the invention

[0004] The invention aims to solve these problems. In particular, it aims to provide a solution for making the driving of a motor vehicle safer when making recurring journeys, in particular in terms of compliance with speed limits. The invention also aims to provide means which allow a driver of a motor vehicle to view and interact with journeys of interest which are proposed to him in order to be able to define speed values ​​not to be exceeded at various points on these journeys. Thanks to such components, the invention aims to maximize driving safety and improve the ergonomics of motor vehicles in terms of making recurring journeys.

[0005] In order to achieve these aims, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method for making the driving of a motor vehicle safer, said method being implemented by means of a computer system which comprises a computer device on board the vehicle and a server remote from the vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: i. determine, by the device, data characterizing at least one journey made by the vehicle; ii. cause, by the device, the transmission of the data obtained during step i) to the server; iii. determine, by the server, data characterizing at least one path of interest based on the data transmitted during step ii); iv. cause the server to provide an input interface that visually identifies said path of interest; v. receive, by the server, data characterizing at least one specification of a maximum speed not to be exceeded at a location on said route of interest, which are generated in response to an input made by means of said input interface; vi. cause, by the server, the transmission to the vehicle of data characterizing at least one operating instruction, which are generated as a function of the data received during step v); and vii. manage, by the device, when it establishes that the vehicle is making said journey of interest, the operation of at least one speed regulator of the vehicle based on the data characterizing at least one operating instruction.

[0006] According to a variant, step vii) may comprise a step consisting of managing the operation of a screen of the vehicle as a function of the data characterizing at least one operating instruction.

[0007] According to another variant, said input interface can be provided by means of a mobile communication device and / or an infotainment system of the vehicle.

[0008] According to yet another variant, step üi) can be carried out by means of an artificial intelligence module.

[0009] According to yet another variant, the data characterizing at least one journey made by the vehicle may contain data characterizing the location of at least one speed limit sign present on the journey, data characterizing a direction of travel and data characterizing a date, a day and / or a time of passage near said sign.

[0010] According to yet another variant, the data characterizing at least one journey made by the vehicle can be determined by interacting with a driving assistance system and / or a navigation system of the vehicle.

[0011] According to yet another variant, said input interface can allow the visualization of the route of interest on a map and of one or more sections of the route segmented according to distinct speed limits as well as the specification of a maximum speed not to be exceeded with regard to a section of the route of interest.

[0012] According to yet another variant, step üi) may comprise a step consisting of acquiring data characterizing a user profile corresponding to said vehicle.

[0013] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a system for securing the driving of a motor vehicle, said system being a computer system which comprises at least one computer device on board the vehicle and a server remote from the vehicle, which are configured to jointly implement a method 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 diagram illustrating a system according to the invention; and

[0016] [Fig.2] is a flowchart which illustrates the steps of a method according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0017] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a system 100 for securing the driving of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. This is composed of a computer device 200 on board the vehicle 1 and a server 300 remote from the vehicle 1. The device 200 according to the invention is essentially a computer apparatus, which comprises at least one information processing unit 201, with one or more processors, a data storage medium 202 and an input and output interface 203 allowing the reception and transmission of data. The device 200 according to the invention is preferably a computer.

[0018] The server 300 is hosted within a connected computing infrastructure so as to be able to communicate with a mobile communication device 400 at using conventional mobile communication networks and protocols (eg 3 / 4 / 5G). It also executes an artificial intelligence module 301, which comprises one or more artificial neural networks trained to determine paths of interest based on the path data that are transmitted by the vehicle 1.

[0019] Advantageously, the device 200 and the server 300 are configured to jointly implement the steps of a method for securing the driving of a motor vehicle within the meaning of the present invention, as described below.

[0020] According to the invention, the vehicle 1 conventionally comprises a navigation system 2, which interacts with a satellite positioning system (e.g. GPS), an infotainment system 3, which conventionally comprises equipment for providing information in the form of sound and / or visual content and for enabling a user to make entries with regard to information which is provided. It also comprises a radiofrequency signal communication system 4 to be able to communicate by means of conventional communication networks and protocols (e.g. V2X; ITS-G5; 3 / 4 / 5G) with remote communicating entities, in particular with the server 300.The vehicle 1 is also equipped with a driving assistance system 5, which conventionally provides a traffic sign recognition functionality based on shots taken by means of a camera 6 on board the vehicle 1, and a cruise control and / or speed limiter 7.

[0021] According to the invention, all the elements described above contribute to implementing a method for making the driving of a motor vehicle safer, as described below in connection with [Fig.2].

[0022] [Fig. 2] illustrates by means of a flowchart the steps of the method according to the invention.

[0023] According to a first step 501 of the method according to the invention, the device 200 determines data characterizing at least one journey made by the vehicle. Thus, the implementation of the method according to the invention is initiated on board the vehicle 1 by a first step during which the device 200 constitutes driving data when the vehicle 1 makes a journey. This data thus obtained provides information on the speed limits which apply at various points along the journey, which are preferably generated by interacting with the driving assistance system 5, in particular its traffic sign recognition functionality, or with the navigation system 2 in order to exploit its mapping which conventionally lists speed limits with respect to road sections.Thus, when a speed limit sign is present near the vehicle 1, the device 100 according to the invention memorizes the speed limit indicated by the sign and associates it with the geographical coordinates of the location of the sign. It also memorizes. a direction of travel, the date of the day, the day of the week and the current time. Thus, at the end of this first step of the method according to the invention, the device 200 according to the invention has advantageously constituted data which provides information on the location of speed limit signs present near the vehicle 1 during the journey as well as additional information which provides information on a driving context.

[0024] Then, according to a second step 502 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention causes the transmission of the data obtained during the previous step to the server 300. To do this, it interacts with the radiofrequency signal communication system 4 of the vehicle 1. Thus, at the end of this second step 502, the server 300 advantageously holds the data which have been constituted on board the vehicle 1.

[0025] Then, according to a third step 503 of the method according to the invention, the server 300 determines data characterizing at least one journey of interest based on the data that was received during the previous step of the method. In other words, the server 300 processes the data sent back from the vehicle 1 to determine one or more journeys of interest. Such journeys of interest thus determined are preferably journeys that are carried out recurrently. To identify them, the server 300 feeds the artificial intelligence module 301, which, advantageously, has been previously trained to determine journeys of interest based on data that informs a set of journeys carried out.

[0026] According to an advantageous embodiment variant, the server 300 first acquires data characterizing a user profile which corresponds to an identification number of the vehicle 1 which was also received during the previous step of the method. It may indeed be that several users drive the same vehicle and the server 300 can thus assign the data transmitted during the previous step to a particular user.

[0027] Then, according to a fourth step 504 of the method according to the invention, the server 300 causes the provision of an input interface which visually identifies said journey of interest. Preferably, this input interface is provided by means of the infotainment system 3 of the vehicle 1. Alternatively, it is provided by means of the mobile communication device 400, for example via a website or an application executed on the communication device 400.

[0028] Through this input interface, the user is offered one or more routes of interest that were determined during the previous step of the method. The user can select a route of interest, name it, view a preview of the route on a map and can select different sections of the route segmented according to the different speed limits that apply to them. For each section, the speed limit speed that applies is indicated and the user can make an entry to specify that it must be taken into account. Alternatively, the user can specify a maximum speed value not to be exceeded with regard to a particular section of the journey, for example if he considers that the speed limit displayed in the interface is no longer valid or if he wishes to take into account a particular circumstance (e.g. heavy road traffic, school exit, etc.). When he makes such an entry, data characterizing at least one specification of a maximum speed not to be exceeded at a point of the journey of interest are constituted by the infotainment system 3 or by the communication device 400. The user can finally validate an entry, which causes the transmission of the generated data to the server 300.Thus, thanks to this step, the user of the vehicle 1 can advantageously view journeys of interest which have been determined according to his driving habits and, for each of these journeys, he can advantageously specify the taking into account of the speed limits which apply to each of the sections of the journey or specify particular speed limits for one or more sections of one or more journeys of interest.

[0029] According to a fifth step 505 of the method according to the invention, the server 300 receives data characterizing at least one specification of a maximum speed not to be exceeded at a location on said route of interest, which are generated in response to an input made by means of said input interface. Thus, when the user of the vehicle 1 makes an input in the previous step relating to a route of interest presented in the input interface, this causes the generation of the aforementioned data which are transmitted to the server 300 and received during this fifth step 505. Thus, at the end of this step, the server 300 advantageously holds data which correspond to speed limit specifications which have been specified by the user of the vehicle 1.

[0030] According to a sixth step 506 of the method according to the invention, the server 300 causes the transmission to the vehicle 1 of data characterizing at least one operating instruction, which are generated as a function of the data received during the previous step. In other words, on the basis of the user specifications received during the previous step, the server 300 determines data characterizing at least one operating instruction. And to determine these data, the server 300 associates the speed limit specifications entered by the user with geographical coordinates and a driving direction. This is how it constitutes the aforementioned data, which are transmitted to the vehicle 1 during this sixth step of the method.

[0031] According to a seventh step 507 of the method according to the invention, the device 200 manages the operation of at least one speed regulator of the vehicle as a function of the data characterizing at least one operating instruction received during the previous step when it establishes that the vehicle is making the journey of interest. And to establish whether the vehicle 1 is traveling on a journey of interest, the device 200 compares the current geographical coordinates of the vehicle 1 with the geographical coordinates of the journeys of interest for which operating instructions have been received. And if it establishes that the vehicle is making a journey of interest, it then manages the operation of the cruise control 7 according to the speed limits which have previously been specified by the user by means of the input interface.Thus, for each section of the journey for which the user has specified that the prescribed speed limit or a particular speed limit must be respected, the device 200 manages the operation of the cruise control so that it uses as the set speed the speed limit which corresponds to the specification of the user. Thus, when the vehicle takes the section of the journey of interest, the vehicle 1 cannot exceed the regulatory speed limit or the speed limit specified by the user. And this is how the safety of driving the vehicle during recurring journeys is maximized.

[0032] According to an alternative embodiment, the device 200 manages during this last step 507 the operation of a screen of the vehicle (not shown) as a function of the data characterizing at least one operating instruction. Such a screen is preferably that of a digital instrument cluster of the vehicle 1 and the device 200 manages its operation so that it conventionally displays the regulatory speed limit which applies to the section of the route of interest on which the vehicle is traveling at the current time and, advantageously, an indication of the taking into account of the regulatory speed limit in accordance with an entry made by means of the entry interface, for example a pictogram representing a mobile communication device. The user is thus informed in an ergonomic manner of the fact that the speed of the vehicle 1 is limited in accordance with an entry which he has previously made.

[0033] Consequently, thanks to the method and the device according to the invention described above, a solution is provided for making the driving of a motor vehicle safer when making recurring journeys, in particular in terms of compliance with speed limits. Furthermore, thanks to the method and the system according to the invention, a driver of a motor vehicle can easily view and interact with journeys of interest which are proposed to him and define speed values ​​not to be exceeded at various points on these journeys. By these means, the invention maximizes driving safety and improves the ergonomics of motor vehicles in terms of making recurring journeys.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for securing the driving of a motor vehicle (1), said method being implemented by means of a computer system (100) which comprises a computer device (200) on board the vehicle and a server (300) remote from the vehicle, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: i. determine, by the device, data characterizing at least one journey made by the vehicle; ii. cause, by the device, the transmission of the data obtained during step i) to the server; iii. determine, by the server, data characterizing at least one path of interest based on the data transmitted during step ii); iv. cause the server to provide an input interface that visually identifies said path of interest; v. receive, by the server, data characterizing at least one specification of a maximum speed not to be exceeded at a location on said route of interest, which are generated in response to an input made by means of said input interface; vi. cause, by the server, the transmission to the vehicle of data characterizing at least one operating instruction, which are generated as a function of the data received during step v); and vii. manage, by the device, when it is established that the vehicle is making the said journey of interest, the operation of at least one speed regulator of the vehicle based on the data characterizing at least one operating instruction.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that step vii) comprises a step consisting of managing the operation of a screen of the vehicle as a function of the data characterizing at least one operating instruction.

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said input interface is provided by means of a mobile communication device (400) and / or an infotainment system (3) of the vehicle.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that step iii) is carried out by means of an artificial intelligence module (301).

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data characterizing at least one journey made by the vehicle contains data characterizing the location of at least one speed limit sign present on the journey, data characterizing a direction of travel, and data characterizing a date, a day and / or a time of passage near said sign.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data characterizing at least one journey made by the vehicle are determined by interacting with a driving assistance system (5) and / or a navigation system (2) of the vehicle.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said input interface allows the visualization of the route of interest on a map and of one or more sections of the route segmented according to distinct speed limits as well as the specification of a maximum speed not to be exceeded with regard to a section of the route of interest.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that step iii) comprises a step consisting of acquiring data characterizing a user profile corresponding to said vehicle.

9. System (100) for securing the driving of a motor vehicle (1), characterized in that said system is a computer system which comprises at least one computer device (200) on board the vehicle and a server (300) remote from the vehicle, which are configured to jointly implement a method according to one of the preceding claims.

Images