Method and device for communicating information representing the remaining travel time before a vehicle changes direction

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for communicating initial information representing the remaining travel time before a first vehicle (11) changes direction following a route determined by a navigation system. To this end, the initial information is determined based on data representing the route and the speed of the first vehicle (11). This data includes a second piece of information representing the distance between the current position of the first vehicle (11) and an intersection between a current lane of the first vehicle (11) and a destination lane associated with the change of direction determined according to the route. The initial information is communicated to a second vehicle (12) following the first vehicle (11) in the current lane. (See Figure 1 for abbreviations.)

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for communicating information representing the remaining travel time before a vehicle changes direction technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to methods and devices for communicating information representing the remaining travel time before a first vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, needs to change direction. The present invention also relates to a method and device for controlling the display of such information. Technological background

[0002] The multiplication of vehicles circulating on the roads leads to an increase in the risk of accidents, particularly depending on the behavior of these vehicles on the roads.

[0003] For example, a vehicle traveling below the speed limit on a section of road can lead to risky behavior by the vehicle(s) following it. Thus, the driver of the vehicle following the one traveling below the speed limit may lose patience and attempt a potentially hazardous and risky overtaking maneuver, which poses a risk to all road users on that section of road. If the vehicle following the one traveling below the speed limit is an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, the system controlling that vehicle may decide to overtake even though it does not have control over all the parameters, particularly the short- or medium-term intentions of the vehicle attempting to overtake, which also poses a risk to all road users on that section of road. Summary of the present invention

[0004] One object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0005] An object of the present invention is, for example, to improve the safety of a vehicle.

[0006] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for communicating initial information representing the remaining travel time before a first vehicle changes direction. The first vehicle follows a route determined by a navigation system, and the change of direction corresponds to the next change of direction along the determined route. a current position of the first vehicle, the process being implemented by at least one processor and comprising the following steps: - reception of the first information, the first information being determined based on data representative of the route and a speed of the first vehicle, the data including a second piece of information representative of a distance between the current position of the first vehicle and an intersection between a current traffic lane of the first vehicle and a destination traffic lane associated with the change of direction determined according to the route; - communication of the first information to a second vehicle following the first vehicle on the current traffic lane.

[0007] Such a method makes it possible to transmit information regarding the time remaining before a first vehicle changes direction to the second vehicle following the first. This allows the second vehicle to have a better understanding of the first vehicle's impending behavior and to adapt its driving accordingly, thereby improving road safety. Indeed, if the time remaining before a change of direction is short, the second vehicle may decide to wait for the first vehicle to change direction rather than overtaking it.

[0008] According to one variant, the communication includes a transmission of the first information to the second vehicle via a wireless connection according to a vehicle-to-vehicle communication mode, known as V2V.

[0009] According to another variant, the communication includes a display control of the first information on a display device of the first vehicle arranged on a rear area of ​​the first vehicle visible from the second vehicle.

[0010] According to a further variant, the method further includes a step of comparing the speed to a threshold value, the threshold value being a function of a maximum authorized speed limit on the current traffic lane, the determination of the first information being implemented when the speed is less than or equal to the threshold value.

[0011] According to yet another variant, the process further comprises a step of communication of a third piece of information representing a meaning associated with the change of direction.

[0012] According to an additional variant, the first piece of information corresponds to: - a value of the remaining travel time at the current moment; - an estimate of the remaining travel time at the current moment; - a dynamic graphical representation showing the variation of the remaining travel time as a function of the time until reaching the intersection.

[0013] According to another variant, the first information is received from a remote device via a wireless link.

[0014] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a communication device for a first piece of information representing a travel time remaining before a change of direction of a vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for the implementation of the steps of the process according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0015] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automobile type, comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0016] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which includes instructions adapted for carrying out the steps of the process according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

[0017] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or an intermediate form between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0018] 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 process according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0019] On the one hand, the recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium can include a storage means, such as a ROM, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit-type ROM, or a magnetic recording means or a hard disk drive.

[0020] On the other hand, this recording medium can also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be transmitted via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or radio frequency, by self-directing laser beam, or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention can, in particular, be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

[0021] Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the process in question. Brief description of the figures

[0022] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the particular and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the attached Figures 1 to 3, in which:

[0023] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates an environment of a first vehicle, according to a a particular and non-limiting example of a realization of the present invention;

[0024] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a device configured to communicate initial information representing the remaining travel time before the first vehicle in [Fig.1] changes direction, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] [Fig.3] illustrates a flowchart of the different stages of a process for communicating initial information representing the remaining travel time before the first vehicle in [Fig.1] changes direction, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. Description of examples of achievements

[0026] A method and device for communicating initial information representing the remaining travel time before a first vehicle changes direction will now be described in the following with joint reference to Figures 1 to 3. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the following description.

[0027] The terms "first," "second" (or "firsts," "seconds"), etc., are used in this document by arbitrary convention to allow for the identification and distinction of different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below. Such elements may be distinct or correspond to a single element, depending on the embodiment.

[0028] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the communication of initial information representing the remaining travel time before a first vehicle changes direction to a second vehicle is implemented by one or more processors of one or more computers in the first vehicle. The first vehicle corresponds, for example, to an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, that is, a vehicle whose control is ensured by one or more ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance System) systems during a journey along a route calculated by a navigation system in the first vehicle.The change of direction corresponds to the next change of direction along the determined route following the current position of the first vehicle; that is, the next, from a spatial and temporal point of view, change of traffic lane from a current traffic lane in which the first vehicle is traveling to a destination traffic lane determined or predicted by the calculated route. Change of direction occurs at an intersection between the road comprising the current traffic lane and one or more roads including the road comprising the destination traffic lane.

[0029] The first piece of information is, for example, received from a remote device such as a server in the cloud or from a computer in the first vehicle. This first piece of information is thus determined by the remote device or the computer, depending on the implementation, based on data representing the calculated route and the speed of the first vehicle. This first piece of information represents the time required for the first vehicle to reach the point (for example, the intersection) of the planned change of direction in the route. The route data includes a second piece of information representing the distance between the current position of the first vehicle and an intersection between a current lane of the first vehicle and a destination lane associated with the change of direction determined according to the route.The first piece of information thus received is then communicated to a second vehicle following the first vehicle on the current traffic lane, the communication corresponding to communication via wireless means and / or to a display of the first information on a display device of the first vehicle visible from the rear of the first vehicle by the second vehicle.

[0030] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an environment 1 in which a first vehicle 11 evolves, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] The first vehicle 11 corresponds, for example, to a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, with electric motor(s), or even a hybrid vehicle with an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors. The first vehicle 11 thus corresponds, for example, to a land vehicle, for example a car, a truck, a bus.

[0032] The environment 1 further includes one or more second vehicles 12 following the first vehicle 11, that is to say one or more second vehicles 12 travelling behind the first vehicle 11 in the direction of travel of the first and second vehicles 11 and 12, on the same lane of travel as the first vehicle 11.

[0033] In the remainder of the description, reference will be made to a second vehicle 12 for reasons of clarity without the invention being limited to an embodiment in which a single second vehicle 12 follows the first vehicle 11.

[0034] The second vehicle 12 also corresponds to a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, with electric motor(s), or a hybrid vehicle with an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors. The second vehicle 12 thus also corresponds to a land vehicle, for example, a car, a truck, or a bus.

[0035] The first vehicle 11 corresponds to a vehicle configured to circulate under the control of the driver and / or under the control of one or more AD AS systems supplied with data by devices and sensors associated with the AD AS systems.

[0036] According to a first embodiment, the first vehicle 11 corresponds to a vehicle adapted to operate in an autonomous or semi-autonomous driving mode, that is to say under the partial or total supervision of one or more AD AS systems on board the first vehicle 11. The first vehicle 11 is for example configured to operate in environment 1 with a level of autonomy greater than or equal to 3 or 4 according to the scale defined by the American federal agency which has established 5 levels of autonomy ranging from 1 to 5, level 0 corresponding to a vehicle having no autonomy, the driving of which is under the total supervision of the driver, and level 5 corresponding to a fully autonomous vehicle.

[0037] According to a second embodiment, the first vehicle 11 corresponds to a vehicle not adapted to operate in an autonomous or semi-autonomous driving mode, the first vehicle 11 operating under the total control of the driver without assistance from an AD AS system, with a level of autonomy equal to 0 (no automation, the driver of the vehicle totally controls the main functions of the vehicle (engine, accelerator, steering, brakes)).

[0038] The 5 levels of autonomy in the classification of the federal agency responsible for road safety are: - level 1: driver assistance, automation is active for certain vehicle functions, the driver retaining overall control over driving the vehicle; cruise control is part of this level, as are other aids such as ABS (anti-lock braking system) or ESP (electronic stability program); - level 2: automation of combined functions, the control of at least two main functions is combined in the automation to replace the driver in certain situations; for example, adaptive cruise control combined with lane centering allows a vehicle to be classified as level 2, as does automatic parking assist; - level 3: limited autonomous driving, the driver can cede complete control of the vehicle to the automated system which will then be in charge of critical safety functions; however, autonomous driving can only take place under certain specific environmental and traffic conditions (only on highways for example); - Level 4: Fully autonomous driving under certain conditions; the vehicle is designed to independently perform all critical safety functions over an entire journey; the The driver provides a destination or navigation instructions but is not required to make themselves available to take back control of the vehicle; - Level 5: Completely autonomous driving without driver assistance in all circumstances.

[0039] The classification of the international organization of motor vehicle manufacturers is similar to that listed above, with the difference that it has 6 levels, level 3 of the American classification being divided into 2 levels in that of the international organization of motor vehicle manufacturers.

[0040] According to the first particular embodiment, the first vehicle 11 carries one or more AD / AS systems, each controlled by one or more computers. These computers form, for example, a multiplexed architecture for providing various services useful for the proper functioning of the vehicle and for assisting the driver and / or passengers of the vehicle in controlling the first vehicle 11 via the control of the AD / AS system(s) carried in the first vehicle 11.Computers communicate and exchange data with each other via one or more computer buses, for example a CAN (Controller Area Network), CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (according to ISO 17458), LIN (Local Interconnect Network), or Ethernet (according to ISO / IEC 802-3) type communication bus.

[0041] The AD AS system(s) on board the first vehicle 11 correspond, for example, to one or more of the AD AS systems in the following list, this list being non-exhaustive and provided for illustrative purposes: - navigation and geolocation system, also called GNSS system (Geolocation and Navigation by a Satellite System), for example a GPS type system (from the English "Global Positioning System" or in French "Système de géo-positionnement par satellites"); - a speed regulation system, for example an adaptive cruise control, known as ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control); - a lane keeping assist system, called LKA (from the English "Lane Keeping Assist"); - a lane departure warning system, known as an AFIL system; and / or - a traffic sign reading / recognition system, known as a TSR system (from the English "Traffic Sign Recognition"); - a semi-automatic lane change system, known as the SALC system (from the English "Semi-Automatic Lane Change"); - a system for detecting and recognizing ground markings.

[0042] One or more of these systems operate on the basis of data received from a data receiving device (for example a GNSS system data receiver) and / or from radar(s), lidar(s) and / or camera type sensors.

[0043] The sensor(s) associated with these AD AS systems correspond, for example, to one or more of the following sensors: - one or more millimeter-wave radars arranged on the first vehicle 11, for example at the front, at the rear, on each front / rear corner of the vehicle; each radar is adapted to emit electromagnetic waves and to receive the echoes of these waves reflected by one or more objects, for the purpose of detecting obstacles and their distances from the first vehicle 11; and / or - one or more LIDAR(s) (Light Detection and Ranging), a LIDAR sensor corresponding to an optoelectronic system composed of a laser emitter, a receiver including a light collector (to collect the portion of the light emitted by the emitter and reflected by any object located in the path of the light rays emitted by the emitter) and a photodetector that transforms the collected light into an electrical signal; a LIDAR sensor thus makes it possible to detect the presence of objects located in the emitted light beam and to measure the distance between the sensor and each detected object; and / or - one or more cameras (with or without a depth sensor) for acquiring one or more images of the environment around the first vehicle 11 that are in the field of vision of the camera(s), for example a so-called front camera, such a front camera being arranged in the passenger compartment of the first vehicle 11 under the windshield and at the top and in the middle of this windshield and having a field of vision corresponding to the space in front of the first vehicle 11 according to the direction of travel of the first vehicle 11.

[0044] The first vehicle 11 is advantageously configured to communicate (receive and / or transmit) data with other vehicles and / or a communication network infrastructure according to a wireless communication mode, known as V2X.

[0045] For this purpose, the first vehicle 11 carries a communication device corresponding for example to a telematic control unit, called TCU (from the English "Telematic Control Unit") associated with one or more antennas.

[0046] The environment 1 of the first vehicle 11 includes, for example, a mobile communication infrastructure, for example, a V2X (Vehicle-to-everything) network infrastructure, with which the first vehicle 11 is configured to communicate data. The communication infrastructure 1, for example, implements communications according to LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced, and C-V2X (Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything) technologies, which rely on 4G and / or 5G, based on LTE. The first vehicle communicates advantageously using a V2X communication system, for example, based on the 3GPP LTE-V or IEEE 802.1 lp standards of ITS G5. In such a V2X communication system, each vehicle carries a node to enable vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and / or vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication.

[0047] The network infrastructure includes, for example, communication devices (not shown in [Fig.1]) corresponding to relay antennas and / or roadside units (RSUs), each corresponding to a node of the network.

[0048] The antenna or UBR is advantageously connected to one or more remote servers 110, for example via the "cloud" 100, via a wired and / or wireless connection. The antenna or UBR is thus configured to act as a relay between the "cloud" 100 (and the remote server 110) and the first vehicle 11.

[0049] Thus, according to various embodiments, the first vehicle 11 corresponds to a vehicle under the total control of the driver of the first vehicle 11, to a semi-autonomous vehicle, or to an autonomous vehicle whose control is ensured by a set of ADAS systems. The first vehicle 11 corresponds to a connected or non-connected vehicle, that is to say, a vehicle comprising wireless communication means for wireless data communication with one or more remote devices such as cloud servers and / or one or more other connected vehicles.

[0050] Similarly, according to various embodiments, the second vehicle 12 corresponds to a vehicle under the total control of the driver of the second vehicle 12, to a semi-autonomous vehicle, or to an autonomous vehicle whose control is ensured by a set of ADAS systems. The second vehicle 12 corresponds to a connected or non-connected vehicle, that is to say, a vehicle comprising wireless communication means for wireless data communication with one or more remote devices such as cloud servers and / or one or more other connected vehicles.

[0051] These different embodiments can be combined in all possible ways. For example, environment 1 comprises a first autonomous or semi-autonomous and connected vehicle 11 and a second autonomous or semi-autonomous and connected vehicle 12. According to another example, environment 1 comprises a first autonomous or semi-autonomous and connected vehicle 11 and a second vehicle 12 not connected. According to another example, environment 1 includes a first vehicle 11 not connected and a second vehicle 12 not connected.

[0052] A process for communicating initial information representing the remaining travel time before the change of direction of the first vehicle 11 is implemented by one or more processors of one or more computers 111 of the first vehicle 11.

[0053] In a first operation of the process, the first piece of information is received.

[0054] When the first information is calculated or determined by a remote device such as the server 110, this first information is received from the remote device 110 by the first vehicle 11 via a wireless link connecting the first vehicle 11 to the network infrastructure relaying the data communicated between the first vehicle 11 and the "cloud" 100.

[0055] The first information is thus received by the first vehicle 11 by means of a wireless communication interface corresponding for example to a telematic control unit 112, called TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Unité de contrôle télématique”), on board the first vehicle 11.

[0056] When the first piece of information is calculated or determined by a device embedded in the first vehicle 11, such as a control unit of the first vehicle 11, the first piece of information is received from this control unit by the control unit implementing the process, for example via one or more data buses connecting these control units. When the control unit implementing the process is the same control unit that determined this first piece of information, the first piece of information is, for example, received from a memory in which it has been stored, for example temporarily, following its determination or calculation.

[0057] The first piece of information is determined or calculated from: - data on the route followed by the first vehicle 11 and calculated by a navigation system, for example the navigation and geolocation system on board the first vehicle 11, based on a destination for a journey to be made with the first vehicle 11; and - of a speed of the first vehicle 11, this speed corresponding for example to a set speed of a speed control system of the first vehicle 11, to a current instantaneous speed obtained from an odometer or the navigation system of the first vehicle 11 or to an average speed (for example calculated over the last kilometer or kilometers traveled) obtained from the odometer or the navigation system of the first vehicle 11.

[0058] Route data includes, in particular, a second piece of information representing a distance (for example, expressed in meters) between the position The current lane of the first vehicle 11 (at the time the first piece of information is determined) and the intersection associated with the next planned change of direction in the route between the current lane of the first vehicle 11 and the destination lane associated with the change of direction. This distance is calculated automatically by the navigation and geolocation system as the first vehicle 11 moves along the current lane.

[0059] The change of direction thus corresponds to the next (from a temporal and spatial point of view, considering the current moment) change of traffic lane or road calculated by the navigation system when determining the route to reach the destination desired by the user of the first vehicle 11.

[0060] When the determination of the first information is implemented by the remote device 110, the route, current geographical position and speed data are for example transmitted by the first vehicle 11 to the remote device 110 via the wireless network infrastructure linking the first vehicle 11 to the "cloud" 100.

[0061] The remaining travel time, denoted 'T', is calculated according to the following equation:

[0062] T = D / V, where D is the distance to the next change of direction (in m) and V the speed of the first vehicle 11 (in m / s), T then being expressed in s.

[0063] According to a particular embodiment, the first piece of information is expressed in the form of a distance (in m) corresponding to the distance separating the current position of the first vehicle 11 from the next intersection associated with the next change of direction.

[0064] In a second operation of the process, the first information is communicated by the first vehicle 11 to the second vehicle 12 following the first vehicle 11 on the current traffic lane of the first vehicle 11.

[0065] According to a first embodiment, the communication corresponds to communication via a wireless connection according to a vehicle-to-vehicle communication mode, known as V2V, the first vehicle 11 and the second vehicle 12 corresponding to so-called connected vehicles.

[0066] The first information is thus transmitted via the TCU 112 of the first vehicle 11 and received by the second vehicle 12 via the TCU 121 of the second vehicle 12.

[0067] According to one variant, the first information is communicated via a wireless communication infrastructure according to a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication mode, known as V2I.

[0068] According to a second embodiment, the communication corresponds to a display control of the first piece of information on a display device 113 of the first vehicle 11 arranged on a rear area of ​​the first vehicle 11 such so that the content displayed on the display device 113 is visible from the second vehicle 12.

[0069] The display device 113 corresponds, for example, to an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) type screen, for example, a TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) type screen, or an OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) type screen. Such a screen is, for example, arranged in the passenger compartment and visible from the rear window of the first IL vehicle. According to another example, the screen is integrated into the body of the first IL vehicle.

[0070] According to another example, the display device 113 corresponds to a projection system projecting the content to be displayed, in particular the first piece of information, onto a support such as the rear window or a bodywork element of the first vehicle IL

[0071] A display control of graphic content (including the first information) or of any graphic object (text, pictogram, icon, etc.) includes a rendering of the graphic content or of the graphic object, such rendering corresponding to a set of operations carried out by one or more processors, for example of the computer 111, on the pixels of one or more images of the graphic content to be displayed on the display device 113. For example, the rendering consists of associating to a set of pixels of an image pixel data (for example color data expressed in an RGB (Red, Green, Blue) type space) associated with each graphic object.

[0072] The display control of the first information thus includes the transmission of control signals to the display device 113 to modify the values ​​associated with the pixels of the display device 113 or of the pixel matrix of the content to be projected at the location intended to display the first information.

[0073] According to a third embodiment, the communication includes the transmission of the first information according to the V2V communication mode and the control of the display of the first information on the display device 113.

[0074] The first piece of information transmitted via V2V and / or displayed on the display device 113 corresponds, for example, to: - a value of the remaining travel time at the current moment, this value being for example expressed in seconds with an explanatory text, for example "change of direction in XX s", with XX the value of the remaining travel time; - an estimate of the remaining travel time at the current moment, the first information transmitted and / or displayed being for example of the form "change of direction in about XX s" or "change of direction in less than XX s"; - a dynamic graphical representation representing a variation of the remaining travel time as a function of the time until reaching the intersection, this graphical representation corresponding for example to an hourglass or a progress bar whose representation varies over time as the remaining travel time decreases.

[0075] According to a particular embodiment, the determination of the first information, and consequently the communication of this first information, is / are conditioned on the result of a comparison between the speed of the first vehicle 11 (used to determine the first information) and a threshold value representative of a determined speed value.

[0076] According to this particular embodiment, the determination of the first information is only implemented when the result of the comparison indicates that the speed of the first vehicle 11 is less than or equal to the threshold value.

[0077] According to this particular embodiment, the process further includes an operation of comparing the speed of the first vehicle 11 to the threshold value prior to the determination of the first information and the communication of the first information.

[0078] This threshold value is determined for example according to a maximum authorized speed limit on the section of road including the current traffic lane of the first vehicle 11.

[0079] According to another example, this threshold value depends on the type of road (urban road, expressway, motorway, etc.) on which the first vehicle 11 travels.

[0080] This threshold value is, for example, determined to be equal to 50%, 60%, 70%, or 75% of the maximum authorized speed limit. The maximum authorized speed limit is, for example, obtained from the mapping data of the navigation system of the first vehicle 11 or from a traffic sign recognition system of the first vehicle 11.

[0081] According to another example, this threshold value is obtained from a look-up table, called a LUT (from the English "Look-Up Table") stored in a memory of the computer 111. This LU associates, for example, for each maximum authorized speed value, a corresponding threshold value, for example, a threshold value of 30 km / h for a maximum authorized speed of 50 km / h, a threshold value of 50 or 60 km / h for a maximum authorized speed of 80 km / h, a threshold value of 70 or 80 km / h for a maximum authorized speed of 110 km / h and a threshold value of 90 or 100 km / h for a maximum authorized speed of 130 km / h.

[0082] This embodiment makes it possible to limit the alerts issued to the second vehicle 12 and relating to the first piece of information to only when the speed of the The first vehicle 11 is deemed slow and dangerous for other vehicles travelling in the same lane as the first vehicle 11.

[0083] According to another particular embodiment, the determination of the first information, and consequently the communication of this first information, is / are conditioned on a condition on the fluidity of road traffic on the current traffic lane of the first vehicle 11.

[0084] According to this embodiment, the determination of the first piece of information is only implemented if traffic is flowing smoothly, for example, if the density of vehicles traveling on the current lane is below a threshold. Traffic flow is, for example, obtained or received from a server transmitting traffic information. According to another example, traffic flow is determined by the first vehicle 11 from data from on-board sensors configured to detect the presence of vehicles in the environment of the first vehicle 11 (for example, radars, lidars, or cameras) by counting the number of vehicles detected per unit of time or distance traveled, for example.

[0085] According to another particular embodiment, a third piece of information representing a direction associated with the next planned change of direction for the first vehicle 11 is communicated with the first piece of information, for example transmitted in V2V communication mode and / or displayed on the display device 113.

[0086] This third piece of information is obtained from route data and corresponds, for example, to information of the type: - change of direction to the left in XX s, change of direction to the right in YY m, with 'XX' corresponding to the first piece of information and 'YY' to the distance used to calculate the first piece of information, or Nth exit at the next roundabout, with N the exit number; and / or - a graphic object or pictogram (intended to be displayed on a screen of the second vehicle 11 with the first information when transmitted in V2V and / or intended to be displayed on the display device 113 with the first information) graphically representing the third information.

[0087] Figure 2 schematically illustrates a device 2 configured to communicate initial information representing the remaining travel time before a first vehicle, for example the first vehicle 11, changes direction, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The device 2 corresponds, for example, to a device embedded in the first vehicle 11, for example, a computer. The device 2 is further configured, for example, to determine or calculate this initial information.

[0088] According to another example, device 2 corresponds to a server or computer type data processing device.

[0089] Device 2 is, for example, configured to carry out the operations described opposite [Fig. 1] and / or the steps of the process described opposite [Fig. 3]. Examples of such a device 2 include, but are not limited to, embedded electronic equipment such as a vehicle's on-board computer, an electronic control unit such as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, or a TCU (Telematic Control Unit). The elements of device 2, individually or in combination, can be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and / or into discrete components. Device 2 can be implemented in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules, or a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0090] The device 2 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 20 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the process and / or for executing instructions from the software embedded in the device 2. The processor 20 may include integrated memory, an input / output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 2 further comprises at least one memory 21, corresponding, for example, to volatile and / or non-volatile memory, and / or includes a memory storage device that may include volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic disk, or optical disk.

[0091] The computer code of the embedded software(s) including the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored on memory 21.

[0092] According to various particular and non-limiting embodiments, the device 2 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and / or with communication devices, for example a TCU (Telematic Control Unit), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0093] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 2 comprises a block 22 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of the block 22 comprise one or more of the following interfaces: - Radio frequency (RF) 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", or in French "Réseau interconnecté local").

[0094] According to another particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 2 includes a communication interface 23 which allows communication to be established with other devices (such as other computers in the embedded system) via a communication channel 230. The communication interface 23 corresponds, for example, to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and / or data via the communication channel 230. The communication interface 23 corresponds, for example, to a wired network of the CAN (Controller Area Network) type, CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (standardized by ISO 17458) or Ethernet (standardized by ISO / IEC 802-3).

[0095] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 2 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 240, touch or not, one or more speakers 250 and / or other peripherals 260 (projection system) via output interfaces 24, 25 and 26 respectively. According to a variant, one or more of the external devices is integrated into the device 2.

[0096] Figure 3 illustrates a flowchart of the different steps in a method for communicating initial information representing the remaining travel time before a first vehicle, for example the first vehicle 11, changes direction, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The method is implemented, for example, by a device embedded in the first vehicle 11, for example a computer or the device 2 of Figure 2. The first vehicle follows a route determined by a navigation system, the change of direction corresponding to the next change of direction along the determined route based on a current position of the first vehicle.

[0097] In a first step 31, the first information is received, the first information being determined based on data representative of the route and of a speed of the first vehicle, the data including a second piece of information representing a distance between the current position of the first vehicle and an intersection between a current traffic lane of the first vehicle and a destination traffic lane associated with the change of direction determined according to the route.

[0098] In a second step 32, the first information is communicated to a second vehicle following the first vehicle on the current traffic lane.

[0099] According to one variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to [Fig.1] apply to the steps of the process in [Fig.3].

[0100] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but extends to a vehicle alert method that would include secondary steps without departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for implementing such a method.

[0101] The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous land-powered vehicle, comprising device 2 of [Fig.2].

Claims

Demands

1. Method of communicating a first piece of information representing the remaining travel time before a change of direction of a first vehicle (11), said first vehicle (11) following a route determined by a navigation system, said change of direction corresponding to the next change of direction according to said route determined according to a current position of said first vehicle (11), said method being implemented by at least one processor and comprising the following steps: - receiving (31) said first information, said first information being determined based on data representing said route and a speed of said first vehicle (11),said data including a second piece of information representing a distance between the current position of said first vehicle (11) and an intersection between a current traffic lane of said first vehicle (11) and a destination traffic lane associated with said change of direction determined according to the route; - communication (32) of said first information to a second vehicle (12) following said first vehicle (11) on said current traffic lane.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said communication comprises a transmission of said first information to said second vehicle (12) via a wireless connection in a vehicle-to-vehicle communication mode, known as V2V.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said communication includes a display control of said first information on a display device (113) of said first vehicle (11) arranged on a rear area of ​​said first vehicle (11) visible from said second vehicle (12).

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a step of comparing said speed to a threshold value, said threshold value being a function of a maximum authorized speed limit on said current traffic lane, the determination of said first information being implemented when said speed is less than or equal to said threshold value.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a step of communicating a third piece of information representative of a direction associated with said change of direction.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said first information corresponds to: - a value of said remaining travel time at said current time; - an estimate of said remaining travel time at said current time; - a dynamic graphical representation representing a variation of said travel time as a function of time until reaching said intersection.

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said first information is received from a remote device (110) via a wireless link.

8. A computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the method according to any one of the preceding claims, when such instructions are executed by a processor.

9. Device (2) for communicating a first piece of information representative of a travel time remaining before a change of direction of a vehicle, said device (2) comprising a memory (21) associated with at least one processor (20) configured for the implementation of the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. Vehicle (11) comprising the device (2) according to claim 9.

Images