Method for searching for a location in a navigation system of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for searching for a location in a navigation system of a motor vehicle comprises the steps of: acquiring (201) a location search request by the navigation system from a user; determining (203) the connectivity of the navigation system to a communication network external to the motor vehicle; if the navigation system is connected, searching (207) for a response to the request in a database comprising information from a server external to the motor vehicle connected to the network; otherwise, searching (209) for a response to the request in a database permanently stored in the navigation system. A navigation system of a motor vehicle comprising a location search module and a motor vehicle comprising the system are also described. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig 2

Description

Title of the invention: Method for searching for a location in a navigation system of a motor vehicle Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for searching for a location in a navigation system of a motor vehicle, a computer program product, a navigation system of a motor vehicle comprising a location search module and a motor vehicle comprising such a system. State of the art

[0002] Currently, many motor vehicles include a navigation system.

[0003] The vast majority of these navigation systems integrate a map database mainly comprising traffic routes as well as an address directory. This address directory includes lists of points of interest, often abbreviated as POI (from the English “Point of Interest”). These are, for example, tourist locations or useful addresses (shops, administrations, parking places, etc.).

[0004] However, one of the disadvantages of these lists of points of interest is that they regularly evolve at a faster rate than the traffic lanes.

[0005] There is therefore a real need for a navigation method and system which resolves all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks. Description of the invention

[0006] To resolve one or more of the drawbacks cited above, according to a first embodiment, a method for searching for a location in a navigation system of a motor vehicle comprises the steps of: • acquisition of a search request for a location by the navigation system from a user; • determination of the connectivity of the navigation system to a communication network external to the motor vehicle; • if the navigation system is connected, search for a response to the query in a database comprising information from a server external to the motor vehicle connected to the network; • otherwise, search for an answer to the query in a database permanently stored in the navigation system.

[0007] Thus, the search results, when a network is available, use an up-to-date database.

[0008] Particular characteristics or embodiments, usable alone or in combination are: • the determination of connectivity includes determining a connection to an IEEE 802.11 standard network or a 4G or 5G digital telephone network; and / or • the database permanently stored in the navigation system is updated at a predetermined frequency when the navigation system is connected to an external communications network.

[0009] In a second embodiment, a computer program product comprises program code instructions for implementing the above method when the program product is executed on a computer.

[0010] In a third embodiment, a navigation system of a motor vehicle comprises a location search module, said module comprising a computer configured to: • acquire a search query for a location from a user; • determine the connectivity of the navigation system to a communication network external to the motor vehicle; • if the navigation system is connected, search for a response to the query in a database comprising information from a server external to the motor vehicle connected to the network; • otherwise, search for an answer to the query in a database permanently stored in the navigation system.

[0011] In a fourth embodiment, a motor vehicle comprises a system according to the third embodiment. Brief description of the figures

[0012] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended figures in which: • [Fig.l] represents a top view of a vehicle comprising a navigation system according to one embodiment; and • [Fig.2] represents a flowchart of a process for searching for a place by the system of [Fig.l] according to one embodiment. Methods of implementation

[0013] The embodiments presented below refer to a motor vehicle, a car. However, those skilled in the art understand that these are also usable with other types of vehicle such as vans, vans, etc.

[0014] The terms “front”, “rear”, “top”, “bottom”, “transverse” are understood in relation to the vehicle.

[0015] With reference to [Fig.l], a motor vehicle 101 comprises a navigation system 103.

[0016] The system 103 comprises a computer 105.

[0017] The computer 105 can, for example, be integrated into the control system of the vehicle 1, as an advanced driver assistance system, commonly called AD AS (for “Advanced driver-assistance Systems” according to English terminology) which makes all driving decisions based on the environment and the programmed destination. The motor vehicle is then referred to as an autonomous motor vehicle. But it can also be a centralized vehicle management system including, or not, driving aids.

[0018] The transfer of data between the different elements is preferably carried out by a CAN (for “Controller Area Network” in English, or “computer area network”) or LIN (for “Local Interconnect Network” in English, or “Local interconnected network” in French) type data bus.

[0019] The computer 105 is connected to an interface 107, typically a touch screen, allowing interaction with a user. This interface 107 allows the map and navigation elements to be displayed and allows the user to enter data such as their destination address. In particular, this interface 107 allows the user to search for a POI via a submenu. This search can be done, depending on the system, by a free text query, for example “I am looking for the nearest gas station” or by browsing lists and sublists.

[0020] The calculator 105 is also connected to a permanent database 109 containing the cartographic data and a first set of POIs.

[0021] Furthermore, the computer 105 is connected to a communication module 111 making it possible to connect, via an external communication network 113, the navigation system with an external server 115 in which a second set of POIs is stored.

[0022] The operation of system 3 is as follows, [Fig.2].

[0023] In step 201, the interface 107 acquires a search request for a POI.

[0024] The computer 105 checks, step 203, via the communication module 111 the availability of a network. Indeed, depending on the location of the vehicle, a network may or may not be accessible. For example, if the vehicle is traveling in a white zone or is parked in the last basement of an underground car park, no network of any type is available. On the other hand, if the vehicle is parked along an urban street, a digital telephone network of the 4G type (corresponding to the IMT-Advanced specifications of ETSI and ITU-R) or 5G (ETSI TS V15.6.0 [3GPP rel.15], October 2019, ETSI F5G [rel.1.1.1], December 2020) is accessible. In a third example, the vehicle may be parked near its owner's home and be connected by IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) to its network.

[0025] If a network is available, the computer connects, step 205, to the external server 115 and carries out, step 207, the requested search on the second set of POIs.

[0026] Otherwise, the calculator 105 carries out, step 209, the requested search on the first set of POIs stored locally.

[0027] Thus, when a network is available, the search is carried out on an updated set of POIs since it can be updated at any time, depending on the policy of the database manager.

[0028] [Fig.l] illustrates a system according to certain embodiments. The breakdown presented has an educational purpose to highlight the different functions. However, it is understood that each block can be implemented using different means or their combinations, such as hardware components, software, one or more computers and / or electronic circuits. Each of the components can include at least one computer or a control-command unit. At least one memory can be included in each component. The memory can include computer program instructions or software code.

[0029] The computers can be implemented by any type of data processing device, such as a central computing unit, a signal processing processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, etc. The computers can be implemented as a single computer, or a plurality of controllers or computers.

[0030] The different modules are connected to each other by data links adapted to the environment. These can be wired or wireless.

[0031] For software, the implementation may include modules or units distributed in the form of procedures, functions, etc. The memories may be any type of storage circuit. They may be part of the processor circuit, or separate from it and connected via electrical data links. These may be non-volatile type memories, hard disks, random access memories, flash memories, etc.

[0032] The program product may be downloadable from a communications network and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium. It may be directly executable by a processor or be in the form of a high-level language requiring one or more intermediate operations to be executable.

[0033] Thus the program instructions stored in the memory and processed by the computers can be any type of program code, for example, a compiled or interpreted program written in a suitable programming language.

[0034] The computer program instructions stored in the memory are such that, when they are executed by the computer, the latter carries out one or more of the steps of the processes described above.

[0035] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This should be considered as illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this description alone. Numerous alternative embodiments are possible.

[0036] In a first variant, the locally stored database can be updated according to a predetermined periodicity associated with the availability of a network.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for searching for a location in a navigation system of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: • acquiring (201) a request to search for a location by the navigation system from a user; • determining (203) the connectivity of the navigation system to a communication network external to the motor vehicle; • if the navigation system is connected, searching (207) for a response to the request in a database comprising information from a server external to the motor vehicle connected to the network; • otherwise, searching (209) for a response to the request in a database permanently stored in the navigation system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining connectivity comprises determining a connection to an IEEE 802.11 standard network or a 4G or 5G digital telephone network.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the database permanently stored in the navigation system is updated at a predetermined frequency when the navigation system is connected to an external communications network.

4. Computer program product characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 when the program product is executed on a computer.

5. Navigation system (103) for a motor vehicle (101) comprising a location search module, said module comprising a computer (105) configured to: • acquire a location search request from a user; • determine the connectivity of the navigation system to a communication network external to the motor vehicle; • if the navigation system is connected, search for a response to the query in a database comprising information from a server external to the motor vehicle connected to the network; • otherwise, search for a response to the query in a database permanently stored in the navigation system.

6. A motor vehicle comprising a system according to claim 5.

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