Method for triggering an event in a moving vehicle
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-07
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for triggering events in moving vehicles based on proximity to areas of interest require significant geospatial data storage, which is costly and impractical for real-time applications.
A method using a compact database of raster images, where each pixel represents a geolocation, allows for event triggering by consulting a limited amount of data, reducing storage needs to approximately 200 megabytes for metropolitan France compared to 6 gigabytes, and includes geolocation recalibration for precision.
Enables event triggering with minimal data storage requirements, achieving real-time functionality with reduced data volume and improved geolocation accuracy.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Method for triggering an event in a moving vehicle. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The technical field of the invention is that of vehicles and more particularly that of triggering events in a moving vehicle in connection with the geolocation of the vehicle.
[0002] The present invention relates to a method for triggering an event in a moving vehicle, and in particular to a method for triggering an event in a moving vehicle located near an area of interest. The present invention also relates to a system and a computer program for implementing the method. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] To evaluate a triggering criterion for an event, such as a security or entertainment event, in a moving vehicle related to the vehicle's proximity to an area of interest, a significant amount of geospatial data is required. For example, triggering an event when an area of interest is visible from the vehicle requires data relating to the vehicle's route, the geometry of the area of interest, the road network, the terrain topology, and the height of surrounding buildings.
[0004] If, for example, we limit the triggering of events to cases where the vehicle is near a school, crosses a forest, drives alongside a park, crosses a waterway on a bridge, or sees a church or historical monument, the necessary data represents approximately 6 gigabytes within the boundaries of metropolitan France alone. However, for the triggering to occur in real time, it is necessary to store this data in the vehicle, and such a volume of data is too costly in terms of storage.
[0005] There is therefore a need to be able to trigger in a vehicle an event related to an area of interest near the vehicle, without having to store several gigabytes of data on board the vehicle. Summary of the invention
[0006] The invention offers a solution to the problems mentioned above, by making it possible to trigger an event linked to an area of interest located near a vehicle by carrying a limited amount of data on the vehicle.
[0007] A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for triggering an event in a moving vehicle, the event being associated with an area of interest located near the vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: • Consultation of a database containing a plurality of raster images, each raster image comprising a plurality of pixels each corresponding to a geolocation, at least one pixel of the plurality of pixels corresponding to a geolocation included in an area of interest associated with the raster image, each pixel meeting at least one triggering criterion presenting a first value and each pixel not meeting the triggering criterion presenting a second value, the triggering criterion being linked to the area of interest associated with the raster image; • If a vehicle geolocation corresponds to a geolocation of a pixel included in a raster image of the database and if said pixel has the first value, triggering of the event associated with the area of interest corresponding to said raster image.
[0008] Thanks to the invention, the data necessary for evaluating a triggering criterion for an event associated with an area of interest are pre-entered into a database requiring no real-time processing other than being consulted according to simple rules. The database contains only raster images, and the stored information is therefore extremely compact due to pixelation on the one hand, and the fact that the rest of the map, which does not contain useful information, is not stored on the other. With this solution, an average of 1 kilobyte is sufficient for a given area of interest, and only 200 megabytes are needed for the perimeter of metropolitan France, compared to 6 gigabytes for the example described in the prior art.
[0009] In addition to the characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the process according to the invention may have one or more additional characteristics from among the following, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations.
[0010] According to one embodiment, the triggered event is the setting up of a unisensory or multisensory atmosphere, the display of a text or a video, or the broadcasting of an audio signal.
[0011] According to an embodiment compatible with the previous embodiment, a pixel meets the triggering criterion if the geolocation corresponding to the pixel is near, crosses, or runs alongside the area of interest or if the area of interest is visible from the geolocation corresponding to the pixel.
[0012] According to an embodiment compatible with the previous embodiments, the database further includes at least one registration information associated with each area of interest and the method includes a step of registration of the geolocation of the vehicle using the registration information associated with the area of interest located near the vehicle.
[0013] Thus, if a very precise geolocation is required to trigger an event, for example for a visibility criterion, an additional precise geolocation recalibration operation is carried out to compensate for the location inaccuracies inherent in the technology used by the geolocation devices on board while in motion.
[0014] According to an embodiment compatible with the preceding embodiments, the method according to the invention comprises a preliminary step of constructing the database, including the following sub-steps for each area of interest: • In a geolocated image including the area of interest, delimitation of the area of interest to obtain a polygon; • Sampling of the road network in a predefined area containing the polygon in the image, to obtain a plurality of geolocated points; • For each point meeting the triggering criterion, a square of predefined dimensions centered on said geolocation is drawn in the image at the corresponding geolocation; • Transformation of the image into a raster image, the raster image comprising a plurality of pixels each corresponding to a geolocation included in the image, the first value being assigned to each pixel of the raster image corresponding to a square and the second value being assigned to the other pixels; • Determination in the raster image, of the smallest window encompassing each pixel presenting the first value, to obtain the raster image associated with said area of interest; • Storage of the raster image in the database, the raster image being associated with said area of interest and with at least one dimension information and at least one geolocation information of the raster image.
[0015] According to a sub-embodiment of the preceding embodiment, said matrix image is stored in the database in the form of a bit array.
[0016] According to a sub-embodiment of the preceding embodiment compatible with the preceding embodiment, the construction step of The database is created on land and the database is stored in the vehicle.
[0017] A second aspect of the invention relates to a system embedded in a vehicle, comprising means for implementing the method according to the invention.
[0018] According to one embodiment, the system according to the invention is a vehicle computer or a smartphone.
[0019] A third aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, lead the latter to implement the steps of the process according to the invention.
[0020] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0021] The figures are presented for illustrative purposes only and are in no way limiting of the invention. • The [Fig. 1] is a synoptic diagram illustrating the sequence of steps of a process according to the invention. • Fig. 2 illustrates the implementation of a first sub-step of the process according to the invention on an example image. • Fig. 3 illustrates the implementation of a second sub-step of the process according to the invention on the image of Fig. 2. • Fig. 4 illustrates the implementation of a third sub-step of the process according to the invention on the image of Fig. 2. • Fig. 5 illustrates the implementation of a fifth sub-step of the process according to the invention on the image of Fig. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing on different figures has a unique reference.
[0023] The invention relates to a method of triggering in a moving vehicle, an event associated with an area of interest, the triggering being conditioned on the verification of a triggering criterion related to the proximity between the vehicle and the area of interest.
[0024] An area of interest may include a single geolocated point and thus correspond to a point of interest, or a plurality of geolocated points.
[0025] The term “geolocated” means corresponding to a latitude and a longitude.
[0026] An area of interest is, for example, a historical monument, a church, a school, a forest, a park, or a watercourse.
[0027] A triggering criterion may be being close to the area of interest, crossing the area of interest, following the area of interest, passing through the area of interest or seeing the area of interest.
[0028] An event can be the setting up of a unisensory or multisensory atmosphere in the vehicle, the display of a text or a video on a screen in the vehicle, the broadcasting of an audio signal by a microphone in the vehicle or more generally any action carried out by a computer program of a device present in the vehicle.
[0029] A geolocation device is carried in the vehicle during its movement.
[0030] The geolocation device may be included in the vehicle or a smartphone of a vehicle user connected to the vehicle.
[0031] The sequence of steps of process 100 is illustrated in [Fig.1].
[0032] The method 100 according to the invention may include a first step 101 of constructing a database comprising a raster image or "bitmap" image, per area of interest considered.
[0033] The first step 101 comprises a plurality of sub-steps carried out for each area of interest considered.
[0034] A first sub-step 1010 of the first step 101 illustrated in [Fig.2], consists of delimiting, using a polygon 202, the area of interest 201 in a geolocated image 200 in which the area of interest 201 is present.
[0035] Image 200 is, for example, an RGB image seen from the sky.
[0036] On [Fig.2], the area of interest 201 is a cathedral and the image 200 is an image seen from the sky on which the cathedral is visible and appears delimited by a polygon 202.
[0037] A second sub-step 1011 of the first step 101 illustrated in [Fig.3], consists of sampling a part of the road network near the area of interest 201, to obtain a plurality of points 203 geolocated on the road network.
[0038] The sampled part of the road network corresponds to a predefined area comprising polygon 202 obtained in the first sub-step 1010.
[0039] The predefined area is, for example, an area of 200 meters surrounding polygon 202.
[0040] A third sub-step 1012 of the first step 101 illustrated in [Fig.4] is carried out for each point 203 obtained in the second sub-step 1011 meeting at least one triggering criterion.
[0041] The third substep 1012 of the first step 101 consists of drawing a square 204 of predefined dimensions centered on said point 203 in the image 200.
[0042] Square 204 is, for example, a square with sides of 10 meters.
[0043] In [Fig.4], it can be seen that only a portion of the 203 points obtained at the end of the second sub-step 1011 met the triggering criterion and were represented by a square 204 in image 200.
[0044] A fourth substep 1013 of the first step 101 consists of transforming the image 200 in which at least one square 204 was drawn during the third substep 1012, into a matrix image 205 visible on the [Fig.5].
[0045] The transformation is carried out for example by applying a pixelation operation, and therefore a reduction of the resolution, to the image 200, then by assigning a first value to each pixel 206 of the matrix image 205 corresponding to at least one point of the image 200 on which a square 204 is drawn and by assigning a second value to each pixel 206 of the matrix image 205 not corresponding to a point of the image 200 on which a square 204 is drawn.
[0046] The first value is for example 1 and the second value is for example 0.
[0047] A fifth substep 1014 of the first step 101 illustrated in [Fig.5], consists of determining the smallest dimension window encompassing each pixel 206 presenting the first value in the matrix image 205, to obtain a matrix image 207.
[0048] The matrix image 207 obtained corresponds to the part of the matrix image 205 contained within the determined window.
[0049] The smallest dimension window is determined for example by scanning all the pixels of the matrix image 205 having the first value, and comparing their coordinates in space.
[0050] A sixth sub-step 1015 of the first step 101 consists of storing the raster image 207 obtained in the fourth sub-step 1014 in the database, and associating with the raster image 207 in the database, the area of interest 201 considered and at least one dimension information and at least one geolocation information of the raster image 207.
[0051] The dimension information is for example the width and height of the determined window and the geolocation information is for example the geolocation of a lower corner and an upper corner of the determined window, and the geolocation of the barycenter of the area of interest 201.
[0052] The matrix image 207 is for example stored in the database in the form of a bit array.
[0053] The matrix image 207 can also be associated with at least one registration information.
[0054] The registration information is, for example, the road network included in the part of image 200 corresponding to the matrix image 207.
[0055] The first step 101 is for example carried out prior to any journey of the vehicle, and after disembarking, that is to say on a computer outside the vehicle.
[0056] A second step 102 of the process 100 consists of consulting the database built in the first step 101 to determine if the geolocation of the vehicle corresponds to the geolocation of a pixel 206 included in a raster image 207 of the database and thus identify the raster image 207 and the pixel 206 of the raster image 207.
[0057] The second step 102 is for example carried out for each change in the geolocation of the vehicle.
[0058] The method 100 according to the invention may include a third step 103 consisting of recalibrating the geolocation of the vehicle using the recalibration information associated with the matrix image 207 identified during the second step 102.
[0059] A fourth step 104 of the process 100 consists of triggering the event associated with the area of interest 201 corresponding to the matrix image 207 identified in the second step 102 if the pixel identified in the second step 102 and potentially rejected in the step 103 has the first value.
Claims
Demands
1. Method (100) for triggering an event in a moving vehicle, the event being associated with an area of interest (201) located near the vehicle, the method (100) comprising the following steps: - Consulting (102) a database comprising a plurality of raster images (207), each raster image (207) comprising a plurality of pixels (206) each corresponding to a geolocation, at least one pixel (206) of the plurality of pixels (206) corresponding to a geolocation included in an area of interest (201) associated with the raster image (207), each pixel (206) meeting at least one triggering criterion having a first value and each pixel (206) not meeting the triggering criterion having a second value, the triggering criterion being linked to the area of interest (201) associated with the raster image (207);- If a geolocation of the vehicle corresponds to a geolocation of a pixel (206) included in a raster image (207) of the database and if said pixel (206) has the first value, triggering (104) of the event associated with the area of interest (201) corresponding to said raster image (207).;
2. A method (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the triggered event is the setting up of a unisensory or multisensory atmosphere, the display of text or video, or the broadcasting of an audio signal.
3. Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a pixel (206) meets the triggering criterion if the geolocation corresponding to the pixel (206) is near, crosses, or runs along the area of interest (201) or if the area of interest (201) is visible from the geolocation corresponding to the pixel (206).
4. A method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the database further comprises at least one registration information associated with each area of interest
5.
6. (201) and the method includes a step (103) of recalibrating the vehicle's geolocation using the recalibration information associated with the area of interest (201) located near the vehicle. A method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a preliminary step (101) of constructing the database, including the following substeps for each area of interest (201): - In a geolocated image (200) including the area of interest (201), delimitation (1010) of the area of interest (201) to obtain a polygon (202); - Sampling (1011) of a road network in a predefined area including the polygon (202) in the image (200), to obtain a plurality of geolocated points (203); - For each point (203) meeting the triggering criterion, drawing (1012) in the image (200) at the corresponding geolocation, of a square (204) of predefined size centered on said geolocation; - Transformation (1013) of the image (200) into a matrix image (205), the matrix image (205) comprising a plurality of pixels (206) each corresponding to a geolocation included in the image (200), the first value being assigned to each pixel (206) of the matrix image (205) corresponding to a square (204) and the second value being assigned to the other pixels (206); - Determination (1014) in the matrix image (205), of the smallest window encompassing each pixel (206) presenting the first value, to obtain the matrix image (207) associated with said area of interest (201); - Storage (1015) of the raster image (207) in the database, the raster image (207) being associated with said area of interest (201) and with at least one dimension information and at least one geolocation information of the raster image (207). Method (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein said matrix image (207) is stored in the database in the form of a bit array.
7. Method (100) according to any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the database construction step (101) is carried out off-site and the database is stored in the vehicle.
8. System embedded in a vehicle, comprising means for implementing the method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.
9. System according to the preceding claim, the system being a vehicle computer or a smartphone.
10. Product computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of the process (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.