Management of virtual marking of a journey made by a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for managing the virtual marking of a journey made by a motor vehicle (1) in order to allow the driver to specify virtual markers on the journey on the fly. The invention also relates to a computer device (100) implementing such a method, as well as a motor vehicle (1) comprising such a device (100). Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Management of the virtual marking of a route taken by a motor vehicle Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of computer systems embedded in motor vehicles. The invention relates in particular to a method for managing the virtual marking of a route taken by 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] It is known that the navigation systems of certain modern motor vehicles allow the specification of points of interest, in other words the assignment of virtual beacons to identify particular locations near journeys that are made. However, in order to be able to carry out such virtual marking, the vehicle must generally be stationary at the point of the journey where the driver wishes to specify a point of interest, in order for the navigation system to be able to accurately establish the geographical coordinates of the virtual beacon. Furthermore, interaction with the navigation system of most motor vehicles is generally carried out by means of a screen arranged in the vehicle, most of the time in the middle of the console, which implies that the driver must take his eyes off the road when he wishes to specify a point of interest in particular.Obviously, this constraint leads to a significant reduction in safety if one wishes to be able to specify points of interest while driving. Consequently, the specification of points of interest during journeys made by a motor vehicle remains to this day not very ergonomic and possibly deficient in terms of safety. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks. In particular, it aims to provide a solution for enabling the virtual marking of a route taken by a motor vehicle, in a manner that is easy for the driver and does not degrade driving safety. In this way, the invention aims to enable the provision of more ergonomic and safer motor vehicles.

[0004] In order to achieve these aims, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method of managing, by a computer device on board a motor vehicle, the virtual marking of a journey made by the vehicle, said vehicle comprising a navigation system, a man-machine interface, which comprises at least one screen and a control member, a head-up display apparatus and at least one detection apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: i. determine whether a virtual tag specification command is entered; and when it is established that this is the case, ii. obtain data characterizing at least one geographic coordinate of the location of the vehicle at the current time; iii. obtain data characterizing the vehicle's environment at the current time; iv. determine data characterizing a synthesis relating to said location based on the data obtained during steps ii) and iii); v. cause the display on the screen and by the head-up display equipment of visual content which provides information at least on the location of said virtual beacon within a representation of said route.

[0005] According to a variant, said command can be entered by means of a tactile interaction carried out on the screen or by means of the control member.

[0006] According to another variant, step ii) can be carried out by interacting with the navigation system.

[0007] According to yet another variant, step iii) can be carried out by interacting with the detection apparatus.

[0008] According to yet another variant, said synthesis relating to said location can establish a link between said geographic coordinate and a distinctive element of said location.

[0009] According to yet another variant, said distinctive element may be chosen from the group comprising: an attribute relating to a traffic lane, an attribute relating to a ground marking element, an attribute relating to a road sign, an attribute relating to an object and an attribute relating to an infrastructure.

[0010] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for managing the virtual marking of a journey made by a motor vehicle, said vehicle comprising a navigation system, a human-machine interface, which comprises at least one screen and a control member, a head-up display apparatus and at least one detection apparatus, the device comprising at least one information processing unit, comprising at least one processor, and a data storage medium 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 medium usable in a computer on which a program as described above is recorded.

[0013] According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising 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 diagram 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; and

[0018] [Fig.4] is an illustration of the implementation of at least one step of the method according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0019] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. This is equipped with a navigation system 2, which conventionally interacts with a satellite positioning system (e.g. GPS), and a human-machine interface 3, which comprises at least one touch screen 4 and a control member 5 (e.g. joystick, touchpad, stalk, etc.). The vehicle 1 according to the invention also comprises a head-up display apparatus 6, which conventionally allows the display of visual contents on the windshield of the vehicle positioned so as to be in the driver's field of vision when the latter looks at the road in front of the vehicle 1. Preferably, the head-up display apparatus 6 advantageously allows the display of such visual contents on one or more planes which appear at a greater or lesser distance from the driver.The vehicle 1 according to the invention also comprises one or more detection devices 7 in order to be able to determine the environment of the vehicle, for example a camera, a radar and / or a lidar.

[0020] Advantageously, the vehicle 1 according to the invention also carries a device 100 for managing the virtual marking of a journey made by a motor vehicle within the meaning of the present invention, as described below, which implements a method for managing the virtual marking of a journey made by a motor vehicle within the meaning of the present invention, as briefly summarized below and described in detail below.

[0021] During a journey that he makes with the vehicle 1, the driver can at any time enter a command to specify a virtual beacon by performing a tactile interaction on the screen 4 or by using the control member 5. And when the device 100 according to the invention establishes that such a command is entered, it then proceeds by obtaining the geographical coordinates of the place where the vehicle 1 is located at the current time, by interacting to do this with the navigation system 2. In addition, by interacting with the detection device(s) 7, it obtains data that define the environment of the vehicle at that moment. This data thus obtained is then merged to establish a summary relating to this particular location of the journey for which the driver wishes to assign a virtual beacon, such a summary then advantageously containing not only the location of the location but also various data which concern the environment of the vehicle, for example the geometry of the roadway, the nature of road signage elements present nearby and / or attributes relating to objects or infrastructures which are present in the surroundings. Then, the device 100 according to the invention advantageously causes the display both on the screen 4 and by the head-up display apparatus 6 of visual content which provides information on the location of the virtual beacon within a representation of the journey.In summary, the driver can advantageously specify a virtual beacon during a journey and can also easily visualize its location, without having to look away from the road at any time. Thus, the device 100 according to the invention allows the provision of a functionality for marking a journey made by a motor vehicle in a more ergonomic and safer manner.

[0022] [Fig. 2] schematically illustrates the device 100 for managing the virtual marking of a journey made by 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 executing 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.

[0023] Preferably, the device 100 according to the invention is hosted on 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, with the human-machine interface 3, with the head-up display apparatus 6 and with the detection apparatus 7. As a result, the device 100 according to the invention can, in particular, determine whether a command to specify a virtual beacon is entered, obtain data characterizing a geographical coordinate of a place where the vehicle 1 is located, obtain data characterizing the environment of the vehicle 1 and cause the display of visual content on the screen 4 of the human-machine interface 3 and by the head-up display apparatus 6.

[0024] According to the invention, all the elements described above contribute to enabling the implementation of a method for managing the virtual marking of a journey made by a motor vehicle, as described below in connection with Figures 3 and 4.

[0025] [Fig.3] illustrates by means of a flowchart the steps of the method according to the invention.

[0026] According to a first step 301 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention determines whether a command for specifying a virtual beacon is entered. As already mentioned, such a command is preferably entered by means of a tactile interaction carried out on the screen 4 of the human-machine interface 3 or by means of the control member 5, which allows the driver to enter such a command without having to take his eyes off the road. Thus, the device 100 according to the invention preferably implements this first step of the method according to the invention by interacting with the human-machine interface 3. And when it establishes that such a command is entered, the device 100 according to the invention then proceeds by carrying out the following steps of the method according to the invention described below.

[0027] According to a second step 302 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention obtains data characterizing at least one geographical coordinate of the location where the vehicle is located at the current time. To do this, it interacts with the navigation system 2, which determines such a coordinate in a traditional manner by interacting with a satellite positioning system (e.g. GPS). Thus, at the end of this second step of the method, the device 100 according to the invention advantageously knows at least one geographical coordinate of the location of the journey for which the driver wishes to assign a virtual beacon.

[0028] According to a third step 303 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention obtains data characterizing the environment of the vehicle at the current time. To do this, it interacts with the detection device(s) 7. When the detection device 7 is a camera arranged in the vehicle 1 so as to be able to take pictures of the environment of the vehicle 1, these are the pictures that are thus obtained. Similarly, when the detection device 1 is a radar, the data obtained are scans carried out by the radar. Alternatively or cumulatively, when the detection device 7 is a lidar, three-dimensional point clouds are thus obtained.Consequently, at the end of this third step of the method, the device 100 according to the invention advantageously holds data which possibly define in various ways the environment of the vehicle at the location of the journey for which the driver wishes to assign a virtual beacon.

[0029] According to a fourth step 304 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention determines data characterizing a synthesis relating to the location where the vehicle 1 is located at the current time as a function of the data obtained during the second and third steps of the method. In other words, the device 100 according to the invention proceeds at this stage by establishing a link between the coordinate(s) geographical coordinates of the location for which the driver wishes to assign a virtual beacon and the environment of the vehicle 1 at this location. The synthesis thus determined establishes in particular a link between the geographical coordinate of the location where the vehicle is located at the current time and a distinctive element of this location, which the device 100 according to the invention extrapolates from the data obtained during the third step. For example, when the data obtained during the third step are generated by means of a camera, the device 100 according to the invention implements conventional image processing techniques to determine at least one distinctive element which concerns, for example, one or more attributes relating to the roadway and / or a traffic lane (e.g. dimension, curvature, etc.), one or more attributes relating to one or more ground marking elements (nature, color, etc.) or one or more attributes relating to traffic signs (e.g. type of sign). Similarly, when the data obtained during the third step are generated by means of a radar or a lidar, the device 100 according to the invention processes the scans or point clouds obtained to determine one or more distinctive elements which concern, for example, one or more attributes (e.g. shape, dimension, etc.) relating to an object (e.g. advertising panel, bus shelter, etc.) or one or more attributes (e.g. shape, dimension) relating to an infrastructure (e.g. bridge, safety barrier, infrastructure for receiving the public, etc.). At the end of this fourth step of the method, the device 100 according to the invention therefore holds data which define the location of the journey for which the driver wishes to assign a virtual beacon in a much more elaborate manner than simple geographical coordinates.

[0030] According to a fifth step 305 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention causes the display on the screen 4 and by the head-up display apparatus 6 of a visual content which provides information at least on the location of said virtual beacon within a representation of the route. The result of the implementation of this step is illustrated schematically in [Fig.4].As seen on the right of the figure, the visual content which provides information on the location of the virtual beacon 8 within a representation of the journey 9 is preferably displayed by the head-up display apparatus 6 on a first plane P2, while the current speed of the vehicle 1, which the device 100 according to the invention determines for example by interacting with a speedometer of the vehicle 1, is displayed on a second plane PL. Alternatively, when the head-up display apparatus does not allow the display of contents on several planes, these elements are displayed on the same plane. In addition, as appears on the left of the figure, similar visual content which shows the location of the virtual beacon 8 within an illustration of the journey 9 is displayed on the screen 4. This advantageously allows another . vehicle occupant to be able to easily view the same visual content as the driver.

[0031] Thus, thanks to the method and the device according to the invention described above, a solution exists to allow the virtual marking of a route taken by a motor vehicle, and this in a manner that is easy for the driver and which does not degrade driving safety. Thus, the method and the device according to the invention contribute to the provision of more ergonomic and safer motor vehicles.

Claims

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6. Claims Method for managing, by a computer device (100) on board a motor vehicle (1), the virtual marking of a journey made by the vehicle, said vehicle comprising a navigation system (2), a human-machine interface (3), which comprises at least one screen (4) and a control member (5), a head-up display device (6) and at least one detection device (7), characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: i. determining whether a command to specify a virtual beacon is entered; and when it is established that this is the case, ii. obtaining data characterizing at least one geographic coordinate of the location where the vehicle is located at the current time; iii. obtain data characterizing the vehicle's environment at the current time; iv. determine data characterizing a synthesis relating to said location based on the data obtained during steps ii) and iii); v. cause the display on the screen (4) and by the head-up display device (6) of visual content which provides at least the location of said virtual beacon within a representation of said route. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said command is entered by means of a tactile interaction carried out on the screen (4) or by means of the control member (5). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that step ii) is carried out by interacting with the navigation system (2). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that step iii) is carried out by interacting with the detection apparatus (7). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said synthesis relating to said location establishes a link between said geographical coordinate and a distinctive element of said location. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that said distinctive element is chosen from the group comprising: an attribute relating to a traffic lane, an attribute relating to a marking element on the ground, an attribute relating to a traffic sign, an attribute relating to an object and an attribute relating to an infrastructure.

7. Device (100) for managing the virtual marking of a journey made by a motor vehicle (1), said vehicle comprising a navigation system (2), a human-machine interface (3), which comprises at least one screen (4) and a control member (5), a head-up display apparatus (6) and at least one detection apparatus (7), characterized in that the device comprises at least one information processing unit (101), comprising at least one processor, and a data storage medium (102) 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. Support usable in a computer, characterized in that a program according to claim 8 is recorded therein.

10. Motor vehicle (1), characterized in that it comprises a device (100) according to claim 7.

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