Control of a function that alerts when being guided towards a limited traffic zone

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a warning function capable of alerting the driver when a vehicle is being guided toward a limited traffic zone. The method comprises determining (200) the coordinates of a user's usual address. If the usual address is located within the first limited traffic zone from a set of at least one limited traffic zone, a perimeter (202) is defined around the usual address. Upon input (211) of a destination by the user in a vehicle navigation function, the warning function is deactivated (215) if the destination is located within the first limited traffic zone and within the defined perimeter. FIG. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Control of a function alerting to guidance towards a limited traffic zone

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of controlling a driver alert function when the driver wishes to reach a destination located in a limited traffic zone.

[0002] The term “vehicle” means any type of vehicle such as a private, utility or heavy goods vehicle.

[0003] A “limited traffic zone” is defined as a geographical area in which vehicle traffic is restricted: for example, such a limited traffic zone may prohibit vehicles from circulating within it, except for predefined exceptions that may apply to residents living in the zone, workers, and / or delivery vehicles. The restrictions imposed by such a zone, as well as its exact designation, depend on regional or national regulations.

[0004] A limited traffic zone can thus prohibit a vehicle from crossing the limited traffic zone, regardless of its type of engine, thermal or electric.

[0005] Such limited traffic zones are generally indicated in most navigation functions implemented in vehicles.

[0006] In addition, when a vehicle user starts navigation to a destination that is within a limited traffic zone, an alert is generally broadcast to the user, warning them that entry into the limited traffic zone is prohibited.

[0007] However, the dissemination of such an alert does not verify whether the user is authorized to enter the restricted traffic zone with their vehicle, for example, if they live or work there. Thus, in these cases, the alert is disseminated unnecessarily. Furthermore, such unnecessarily dissemination can occur frequently since the user generally travels to their home or workplace on a regular basis.

[0008] This results in a lack of relevance and precision of a vehicle alert function capable of alerting on guidance towards a limited traffic zone.

[0009] There is therefore a need to improve an alert function capable of alerting on guidance towards a limited traffic zone.

[0010] The present invention improves the situation.

[0011] To this end, a first aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling an alert function capable of alerting to the guidance of a vehicle towards a limited traffic zone, the method comprising the following steps: - determination of coordinates of a usual address of a vehicle user; - if the usual address is included in a first limited traffic zone among a set of at least one limited traffic zone, definition of a perimeter around the usual address; - upon indication of a destination by the user in a vehicle navigation function, deactivation of the alert function if the destination is within the first limited traffic zone and within the defined perimeter.

[0012] Thus, the user can define a default address, which could be, for example, their home or work address, and the alert function is deactivated when the user initiates navigation to a destination near that default address. The relevance and accuracy of the alert function are thereby improved, as the alert is only issued when truly necessary.

[0013] According to some embodiments, the perimeter can be a circle of predefined radius centered on the usual address.

[0014] Thus, the definition of the perimeter is facilitated and requires little memory and computing resources.

[0015] According to embodiments, if the indicated destination is within a limited traffic zone and is outside the defined perimeter, the method may include the dissemination of an alert by the alert function.

[0016] Thus, the relevance and accuracy of the alert function are improved, in that the alert is only disseminated when it is really necessary.

[0017] According to embodiments, the method may further include a display of guidance information to the destination on a human-machine interface of the vehicle.

[0018] Thus, blocking the alert or broadcasting the alert is a prerequisite to launching the navigation function to the destination indicated by the user.

[0019] In addition, the method may further include, following the deactivation of the alert function and during the display of guidance information, a reactivation of the alert function.

[0020] Thus, the alert function can be kept enabled by default, and is only disabled when the user indicates a destination in a limited traffic area close to a previously defined usual address.

[0021] According to some embodiments, the usual address can be defined by the user via a graphical interface of the navigation function displayed on a touch screen of the vehicle.

[0022] Thus, the user can configure one or more usual addresses within the navigation function itself, which facilitates the use of the navigation function.

[0023] A second aspect of the invention relates to a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to the first aspect of the invention, when these instructions are executed by a processor.

[0024] A third aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle navigation module, comprising a processor configured to control an alert function capable of alerting the driver to guidance towards a limited traffic zone, the processor being further configured to: - determine the coordinates of a usual address of a vehicle user; - if the usual address is located in a first limited traffic zone among a set of at least one limited traffic zone, define a perimeter around the usual address; - upon indication of a destination by the user in a navigation function implemented by the navigation module, deactivate the alert function if the destination is within the first limited traffic zone and within the defined perimeter.

[0025] A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle comprising a navigation module according to the third aspect of the invention.

[0026] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0027] [Fig-1] illustrates a motor vehicle, according to embodiments of the invention;

[0028] [Fig.2] is a diagram illustrating the steps of a control process for a alert function, according to embodiments of the invention;

[0029] [Fig.3] illustrates map data stored by a vehicle, according to embodiments of the invention;

[0030] [Fig.4] illustrates a structure of a vehicle navigation module according to embodiments of the invention.

[0031] Fig. 1 illustrates a motor vehicle 100, according to embodiments of the invention.

[0032] The vehicle 100 further includes a navigation module 102, capable of implementing a navigation function. As is known, the navigation function allows the driver to be guided, or the vehicle to be driven autonomously, from a destination, the vehicle's current position, and map data. The navigation function can, in particular, display visual guidance information on a screen of a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) 103 of the vehicle 100.

[0033] The navigation module 102 can, in particular, by default, implement an alert function and display a visual alert on the HMI 103 if the user enters a destination located in a limited traffic zone, in certain embodiments, as described below.

[0034] The HMI 103 may further include at least one loudspeaker. The navigation module 102 may, by default, broadcast an audible alert on at least one loudspeaker if the user enters a destination located in a limited traffic zone, in certain embodiments, as described below.

[0035] The vehicle 100 may include a radio communication module 106 capable of communicating with a mobile access network, allowing access to a wide area network, such as an IP network for Internet Protocol. The radio communication module 106 thus enables the establishment of communication sessions with remote entities in order to obtain information that can be processed by other modules of the vehicle 100 and / or stored in a memory 105 of the vehicle 100. In particular, the radio communication module can obtain descriptive map data of road infrastructure in a given area, including the vehicle's current position or corresponding to a user search via the navigation function implemented by the navigation module 102. The map data obtained by the radio communication module can be stored in the memory 105 or in an internal memory of the navigation module 102.According to the invention, the mapping data may include descriptive mapping data of a set of at least one limited traffic zone.

[0036] The radio communication module 103 can in particular be capable of, and configured to, access a 4G or 5G type mobile access network.

[0037] The vehicle 100 may further include a satellite positioning module 104, for example GPS, for "Global Positioning System", capable of determining in real time a current position of the vehicle 100. The operation of such a satellite positioning module 104 is well known and is not described further in the present description.

[0038] The current position of vehicle 100 can be used by the navigation module 102 of vehicle 100, as previously described, for the implementation of the navigation function.

[0039] The [Fig.2] is a diagram illustrating the steps of a method for controlling an alert function, according to embodiments of the invention.

[0040] The process described with reference to [Fig.2] can be implemented in the vehicle 100 described with reference to [Fig.1], in particular by the navigation module 102.

[0041] At step 200, upon receiving user input on a graphical interface of the navigation function displayed on the HMI 103, the navigation function defines a usual or recurring address. Such a usual address may, for example, correspond to the user's home address, the user's work address, or the address of a relative of the user. The definition of the usual address may include the identification of coordinates allowing locate the usual address in the map data stored in memory 105 or in the internal memory of the navigation module 102.

[0042] At a step 201, the navigation module 102 can determine whether the usual address is located in a limited traffic zone or not. To this end, the navigation module 102 can compare the coordinates of the usual address with descriptive map data of limited traffic zones in a territory stored in memory 105 or in the internal memory of the navigation module 102.

[0043] In the case where the usual address is located outside any limited traffic zone, the process proceeds to a step 210 described below, without implementation of steps 202 and 203.

[0044] If the usual address is located in a first limited traffic zone among the limited traffic zones described in the map data, the process proceeds to step 202.

[0045] In step 202, the navigation module 102 defines a perimeter around the usual address defined in step 200, when the usual address is within a restricted traffic zone, namely the first restricted traffic zone. For example, the perimeter may be a circular area whose center is the defined usual address and whose radius is equal to a predefined value, which may be several tens of meters, for example, 100 meters. The perimeter definition may include storing descriptive information about the perimeter in memory 105 or in the internal memory of the navigation module 102, such as the center of the perimeter and the radius of the perimeter. The radius of the perimeter may not be stored with the descriptive information of the perimeter when the radius has a predefined value.

[0046] Figure 3 illustrates map data stored in memory 105 or in an internal memory of the navigation module 102, according to embodiments of the invention.

[0047] The map data identifies the usual address, identified by reference 301, as defined by the user in step 200.

[0048] The usual address 301 is located within a first limited traffic zone 303, as determined by the navigation module 102 during step 201 described above.

[0049] The perimeter 302 is defined around the usual address 301 by the navigation module 102 during step 202 described above. As described above, the perimeter 302 can be a circle centered on the usual address 301. Alternatively, the perimeter can have a shape other than a circle, for example, it can be a square with a side of predefined value.

[0050] In the example shown in [Fig. 3], perimeter 302 is entirely contained within the limited traffic zone 303, by way of illustration. In other situations, perimeter 302 may be partially contained within the limited traffic zone.

[0051] Referring again to [Fig.2] describing the method according to the invention, the navigation module 102 can store at least one descriptive information of the perimeter 302 in the memory 105 or in the internal memory of the navigation module 102, at a step 203.

[0052] At a step 210, the navigation module 102 activates the navigation function following a user input on the HMI 103, for example a touch input on a touch screen of the HMI 103.

[0053] No restriction is attached to the time between step 203 and step 210, which may include a few seconds or a few driving cycles, and which depends on the choice of the vehicle user and the driving situation.

[0054] At a step 211, the user indicates, via the graphical interface of the navigation function displayed on a touch screen of the HMI 103, a destination, so that the navigation module 102 calculates a route to the destination.

[0055] At a step 212, the navigation module 102 determines whether the destination is included in a limited traffic zone among the limited traffic zones described in the stored map data.

[0056] If this is not the case, that is to say if the destination is outside any restricted traffic zone, the process proceeds to step 213.

[0057] During step 213, the navigation module 102 displays navigation information on the screen of the HMI 103 to guide the driver to the destination, from the calculated route, with an update of the navigation information according to the evolution of the current position of the vehicle obtained from the satellite positioning module 104.

[0058] If this is the case in step 212, i.e. if the destination is included in one of the limited traffic zones described in the stored map data, for example in the first limited traffic zone 303, the process proceeds to a step 214.

[0059] At a step 214, the navigation module 102 determines whether the destination is within the perimeter defined during step 202, or within one of the perimeters defined during steps 202 when the user has defined several usual addresses.

[0060] If this is not the case, i.e., if the destination is outside any perimeter defined in step 202, or if no perimeter has been defined because the usual position indicated in step 200 is outside any restricted traffic zone, the process proceeds to step 216 of broadcasting an audible or visual alert via the HMI 102 by means of an alert function implemented by the navigation module 102. The default parameters of the navigation function are thus applied, with a default activated state of the alert function. The process then proceeds to step 213 described previously, for guidance to the destination. Proceeding to step 213 may be conditional upon user confirmation following the broadcast of the alert during step 216.

[0061] Such a case corresponds to guidance to a first destination 304 represented on [Fig.3]: the first destination is indeed included in the first limited traffic zone 303 but is outside the perimeter 302 defined in step 202. It is then justified to alert the driver that the indicated destination is included in a limited traffic zone.

[0062] On the other hand, if the destination is within the perimeter defined in step 202, or within one of the perimeters defined in one of the steps 202, the process proceeds to step 215. Such a situation corresponds, for example, to guidance to a second destination 305 shown in [Fig.3], which is both within the first limited traffic zone 303 and within the perimeter 302 defined around the usual address 301.

[0063] In step 215, the navigation module 102 deactivates the alert function, or blocks an alert, indicating guidance to a restricted traffic zone. Such deactivation may involve modifying a parameter of the alert function implemented by the navigation module 102. The process then proceeds to navigation step 213. The deactivation in step 215 may be temporary, and the alert function may be reactivated after the start of guidance step 213.

[0064] During step 213, navigation information is displayed by the navigation module 102 on the HMI, until the destination is reached.

[0065] Thus, when step 213 is consecutive to step 212, the destination is not included in a limited traffic zone, therefore no alert is broadcast during the navigation of step 213.

[0066] When step 213 follows step 216, the destination is located within the first limited traffic zone, but no usual address is near the destination. With the alert function activated, a visual or audible alert is broadcast during step 216, before the start of guidance step 213.

[0067] When step 213 follows step 215, the destination is located within the first limited traffic zone and within the perimeter defined around the usual address. The alert function is then deactivated, and the visual or audible alert is blocked or inhibited. Guidance information is thus displayed at step 213 without prior alert being issued.

[0068] Figure 4 shows the structure of a navigation module 102, according to embodiments of the invention.

[0069] The navigation module 102 includes a processor 401 configured to communicate unidirectionally or bidirectionally, via one or more buses or via a direct wired connection, with a memory 402 such as a type memory Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), or any other type of memory (Flash, EEPROM, etc.). Alternatively, 402 memory can include several of the aforementioned types.

[0070] The memory 402 is capable of storing, permanently or temporarily, at least some of the data used and / or resulting from the implementation of the steps of the process described with reference to [Fig.2].

[0071] In particular, memory 402 can store, at least temporarily: - cartographic data including descriptive cartographic data of one or more limited traffic zones; - the coordinates of the usual address defined in step 200; - descriptive information of the perimeter defined in step 202.

[0072] Alternatively, such data is stored in the memory 105 of the vehicle 100.

[0073] The processor 401 is capable of executing instructions, stored in memory 402, for the implementation of the steps of the process according to the invention, described with reference to [Fig. 2]. Alternatively, the processor 301 can be replaced by a microcontroller designed and configured to perform the steps of the process according to the invention, described with reference to [Fig. 2].

[0074] The navigation module 102 includes a first interface 403 capable of communicating with the HMI 103, to receive signals indicating user inputs, in particular inputs to control the navigation function implemented by the navigation module 102 and whose graphical interface is displayed on a screen of the HMI 103. The first interface 403 is also capable of transmitting an alert signal to the HMI, on indication of a destination located in a limited traffic zone, when the alert function is active.

[0075] The navigation module 102 further includes a second interface 404 capable of communicating with the memory 105 described above, for obtaining cartographic data, the coordinates of the usual address and / or descriptive information of the perimeter, when they are not stored in the memory 402.

[0076] The navigation module 102 may include a third interface 405 capable of communicating with the satellite positioning module 104 to obtain a current position of the vehicle 100.

[0077] The navigation module 102 may include a fourth interface 406 capable of communicating with the radio communication module 106, for obtaining map data updated according to the current position of the vehicle 100.

[0078] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of example; it extends to other variants.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for controlling an alert function capable of alerting on the guidance of a vehicle towards a limited traffic zone, the method comprising the following steps: - determining (200) coordinates of a usual address (301) of a vehicle user; - if the usual address is included in a first limited traffic zone among a set of at least one limited traffic zone, defining (202) a perimeter (302) around the usual address; - upon indication (211) of a destination (304; 305) by the user in a navigation function of the vehicle, deactivating (215) the alert function if the destination is included in the first limited traffic zone and within the defined perimeter.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the perimeter (302) is a circle of predefined radius centered on the usual address (301).

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein if the indicated destination (304; 305) is within a limited traffic zone (303) and is outside the defined perimeter (302), the method includes the dissemination of an alert.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a display (213) of destination guidance information (304; 305) on a human-machine interface (103) of the vehicle (100).

5. Method according to claim 4, further comprising, following deactivation (215) of the alert function and during the display (213) of guidance information, a reactivation of the alert function.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the usual address (301) is defined by the user via a graphical interface of the navigation function displayed on a touchscreen of the vehicle. (100)

7. 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 (401).

8. Navigation module (102) of a vehicle (100), including a processor (401) configured to control a suitable alert function

9. to alert users to guidance towards a limited traffic zone, the processor being further configured to: - determine the coordinates of a usual address (301) of a vehicle user; - if the usual address is included in a first limited traffic zone (303) among a set of at least one limited traffic zone, define a perimeter (302) around the usual address; - upon indication of a destination (304; 305) by the user in a navigation function implemented by the navigation module, deactivate the alert function if the destination is within the first limited traffic zone and within the defined perimeter. Vehicle (100) comprising a navigation module (102) according to claim 8.

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