Managing the operation of a vehicle's navigation system for the execution of planned routes

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for managing the operation of a navigation system (2) in a motor vehicle (1) to facilitate the execution of planned routes. The invention also relates to a computer device (100) implementing such a method, as well as a motor vehicle (1) comprising such a device. Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Management of the operation of a motor vehicle navigation system for the execution of planned routes. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of navigation systems for motor vehicles. The invention relates in particular to a method for managing the operation of a vehicle's navigation system by means of a computer device embedded in 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 is applicable to motor vehicles such as motor land vehicles, particularly cars. Prior art

[0002] It is known that the navigation systems fitted to most modern motor vehicles offer a feature that allows the driver to save certain favorite routes in the navigation system, for example, a route between home and work. However, when driving these routes, the driver must at least select the route using the navigation system's information input interface and confirm the start of the navigation guidance. And when a favorite route is driven repeatedly, this means that the driver must operate the navigation system's information input interface each time to start the guidance. This results in a loss of time for the driver.Furthermore, when undertaking occasional journeys, which by definition are not generally recorded in the navigation system, the driver must operate the navigation system's information input interface before starting the journey. This is necessary to specify the destination, any waypoints, and possibly specific guidance options, and to confirm the start of the guidance. However, in an emergency situation where the driver wants to begin an occasional journey guided by the navigation system as quickly as possible, this need to manipulate the navigation system before guidance can begin can cause stress, impair the driver's ability to concentrate, and consequently reduce driving safety. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks. In particular, it aims to provide a solution for automating the initiation of guidance by a navigation system. of a motor vehicle during regular or occasional journeys, thus freeing the driver from the need to enter any data during such journeys. In this way, the invention aims to maximize the ergonomics and safety of motor vehicles.

[0004] In order to achieve these goals, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method of managing, by means of a computer device embedded in a motor vehicle, the operation of a vehicle's navigation system, the method comprising the steps of: i. determine whether at least one planned route and at least one attribute relating to its execution have been specified by means of an information input interface of the navigation system; ii. determine whether the planned route should be carried out according to the attribute at each vehicle start; iii. to trigger the navigation system to initiate guidance for the planned route once it is established that the planned route must be followed.

[0005] According to one variant, step i) may include a step consisting of causing, depending on the attribute, the transmission of a notification informing of the upcoming completion of the planned route to a communicating device.

[0006] According to another variant, the attribute can specify a date, a time or a periodicity for carrying out the planned journey.

[0007] According to yet another variant, the information input interface can allow a search for an address or a point of interest.

[0008] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for managing the operation of a navigation system of a motor vehicle, the device comprising an information processing unit, with one or more processors, and a data storage medium, which are configured to implement a method as described above.

[0009] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for the execution of the steps of a process as described above when said program is executed by at least one processor.

[0010] According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a computer-readable medium on which a program as described above is recorded.

[0011] According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a navigation system and comprising a device as described above. Brief description of the figures

[0012] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying figures, in which:

[0013] [Fig-1] is a schematic illustration of the context of the invention;

[0014] [Fig.2] is a functional diagram of a device according to the invention; and

[0015] [Fig.3] is a flowchart of the steps of a process according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0016] Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. This vehicle comprises a navigation system 2, which conventionally interacts with a satellite positioning system (e.g., GPS, Galileo, Beidou) and provides an information input interface to allow the specification of routes. Advantageously, the information input interface of the navigation system 2 is configured to allow, in particular, the specification and recording of planned routes that are carried out recurrently or occasionally, and the definition of attributes relating to the execution of such routes. Such attributes, which can thus be specified and recorded, make it possible, in particular, to define a date of execution, a time of execution, and a periodicity of execution with respect to a planned route.Preferably, the navigation system 2 is of the connected type, that is to say, by interacting with a radio frequency signal communication device 3 of the vehicle 1, it can receive data transmitted by a server which provides navigation information (e.g. mapping, real-time traffic, applicable road laws, weather conditions, etc.) and transmit data to a communicating device 4 previously configured to interact with the vehicle 1.

[0017] Advantageously, the vehicle 1 according to the invention also includes a device 100 for managing the operation of a navigation system of a motor vehicle within the meaning of the present invention, as described below, which implements a method for managing the operation of a navigation system of a motor vehicle within the meaning of the present invention, as briefly summarized below and described in detail below.

[0018] During the implementation of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention determines whether a planned route and at least one attribute relating to its execution have been specified by means of the information input interface of the navigation system. Then, each time the vehicle is started, it determines, based on the attribute, whether the planned route should be followed. And if it determines that this is the case, the device 100 according to the invention then causes the immediate launch of the navigation system's guidance for the execution of the route. Thus, the driver who has previously specified a recurring or occasional planned route no longer needs to operate the The navigation system is activated before the journey begins, allowing the driver to immediately benefit from its guidance. In this way, device 100 according to the invention improves the ergonomics and safety of a motor vehicle.

[0019] Figure 2 illustrates in more detail the device 100 for managing the operation of a navigation system of a motor vehicle according to the invention. It is essentially a computer device, which includes 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 includes program code instructions for the execution of the steps of the process according to the invention described below, and an input and output interface 103 enabling the reception and transmission of data.

[0020] Preferably, the device 100 according to the invention is integrated into an independent computer and interacts via its input and output interface 103 and by means of a wired vehicle communication network (e.g., CAN, Ethernet, MOST) – represented in [Fig. 1] by the arrows – with the navigation system 2. Alternatively, the device 100 according to the invention is an integral part of the navigation system 2. Consequently, the device 100 according to the invention is advantageously capable, in particular, of determining whether at least one planned route and at least one attribute relating to its execution have been specified by means of the information input interface of the navigation system and it can cause the navigation system to initiate guidance for the execution of a planned route.

[0021] According to the invention, all the elements described above contribute to enabling the implementation of a method for managing the operation of a navigation system of a motor vehicle, as described below in relation to [Fig.3].

[0022] Figure 3 illustrates, by means of a flowchart, the steps of the process according to the invention.

[0023] According to a first step 301 of the process according to the invention, the device 100 according The invention determines whether at least one planned route and at least one attribute relating to its execution have been specified by means of an information input interface of the navigation system. Indeed, beyond simply offering the driver the possibility of specifying and saving favorite routes, for example, a route between a home and a workplace, the information input interface of the navigation system 2 of the vehicle 1 according to the invention is advantageously configured to allow the specification and saving of planned routes as well as attributes relating to the execution of such routes. For example, the driver can specify a route between a home and a workplace and specify as an attribute a time for completion, for example, 8:00 a.m., and a daily frequency for completing the route every weekday. The driver can similarly specifying and recording an occasional planned route to the airport, and as attributes of this route, a date and time for its completion. To allow such specification of a planned route and at least one related attribute, the navigation system 2 is advantageously configured to allow searching for an address or point of interest, for example, conventionally using integrated mapping or, optionally, via an internet connection using the vehicle 1's radio frequency communication equipment 3. Thus, when such a planned route has been specified and recorded in the navigation system 2, the device 100 according to the invention will advantageously determine, during this first step of the process, the existence of a record of such a planned route.

[0024] And according to an advantageous alternative, when it establishes that such a planned journey has been specified and recorded, the device 100 according to the invention then causes the transmission by the navigation system 2 of a notification informing of the upcoming completion of the journey to the communicating device 4. For example, in the case of a planned journey between a place of home and a place of work carried out every working day of the week which has been specified and recorded, the device 100 according to the invention causes each working day of the week the transmission of a notification to inform the driver of the upcoming completion of the planned journey between his home and his place of work.Similarly, in the case of a planned trip to the airport, the device 100 according to the invention will cause the transmission of a notification to the communicating device 4 so that it reaches the driver before the date and time specified as a trip attribute. Such transmission can be carried out directly between the navigation system 2 and the communicating device 4 or through an intermediary service that acts as a communication interface and provides bidirectional information between the communicating device 4 and the vehicle 1, for example, by means of a server hosted within an IT infrastructure managed by the manufacturer of the vehicle 1.

[0025] According to a second step 302 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention proceeds, once it has established in the preceding step that at least one planned route has been specified and recorded, by determining at each start of the vehicle 1 whether the planned route should be taken. To do this, it will consider the attribute(s) that have been specified for the execution of the planned route. For example, in the case of the planned route between the home and work locations, which must be taken at 8:00 a.m. every weekday, the device 100 according to the invention will determine, at the start of the vehicle 1, based on the current time, whether the planned route should be taken. Similarly, in the case of the planned route To get to the airport, the device 100 according to the invention will determine at each start of the vehicle whether the current date and time correspond to the date and time that have been specified for the completion of the journey.

[0026] According to a third step 303 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention triggers the navigation system 2 to initiate guidance for the planned route as soon as it has determined in the preceding step that the planned route must be taken. Thus, in the case of the planned route between home and work, which must be taken at 8:00 a.m. every weekday, the device 100 according to the invention determined in the preceding step, when the vehicle 1 was started at 8:05 a.m., that the planned route must be taken. Consequently, it immediately triggers the navigation system 2 to initiate guidance for the route without the driver having to operate the navigation system 2's information input interface in any way.Similarly, in the case of the planned trip to the airport on Thursday, June 11, 2024, at 5:00 PM, the device 100 according to the invention determined during the previous step, when vehicle 1 was started at 5:02 PM on the date of the planned trip, that the planned trip must be completed. Consequently, during this third step of the process, it immediately initiates guidance via the navigation system 2 for completing the planned trip without the driver having to do anything. Thus, the driver can benefit from the guidance provided by the navigation system 2 to complete the planned trip without having to operate the information input interface of the navigation system 2 in any way.

[0027] Therefore, thanks to the method and device according to the invention described above, a solution is provided for automating the initiation of navigation guidance by a motor vehicle's navigation system during recurring or occasional journeys, thus freeing the vehicle's driver from the need to perform any action during such journeys. In this way, the invention maximizes the ergonomics and safety of motor vehicles.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for managing, by means of a computer device (100) on board a motor vehicle (1), the operation of a navigation system (2) of the vehicle (1), characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: i. determining whether at least one planned route and at least one attribute relating to its execution have been specified by means of an information input interface of the navigation system; ii. determining whether the planned route should be executed according to the attribute at each start of the vehicle; iii. causing the launch of guidance by the navigation system for the execution of the planned route as soon as it is established that the planned route should be executed.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that step i) comprises a step consisting of causing, depending on the attribute, the transmission of a notification informing of the upcoming completion of the planned route to a communicating device (4).

3. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attribute specifies a date, time or periodicity for carrying out the planned journey.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the information input interface allows a search for an address or point of interest.

5. Device (100) for managing the operation of a navigation system (2) of a motor vehicle (1), characterized in that the device comprises an information processing unit (101), with one or more processors, and a data storage medium (102), which are configured to implement a method according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. Computer program comprising program code instructions for carrying out the steps of a process according to any one of claims 1 to 4 when said program is executed by at least one processor.

7. A computer-readable medium, characterized in that a program according to claim 6 is stored thereon.

8. Motor vehicle (1) equipped with a navigation system (2), characterized in that the vehicle (1) includes a device (100) according to claim 5.

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