A method for providing an error message for a person in a motor vehicle by an information system, a computer program product, a non-transitory computer-

Abstract

A method for providing an error message 28 for a person in a motor vehicle by an information system 10 of the vehicle includes receiving an error code 26 for an error 18 of the vehicle 30 from an onbo

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for providing an error message for a person in a motor vehicle by an information system of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as to a corresponding information system. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] One of the challenges that users and mechanics face is that they have to use an onboard-diagnostic-11 tool to hook into the vehicle's system in order to read error codes. They use the error codes to understand and troubleshoot the problem with the vehicle.

[0003] Some of the burdens with the existing mechanisms are currently, the typical situation is the “check engine” light comes on and confuses the owner / driver since there is no information what the problem is. The owner of the motor vehicle may have to bring their motor vehicle into the automotive service shop just to get the onboard-diagnostic code read properly. It is hard for the owner to be able to see the error code today and communicate this information with the service shop. The mechanic has to hook up the onboard-diagnostic reader to the vehicle and then download the relevant information. Once service is done, the mechanic has to use the onboard-diagnostic tool to reset the system. There is no stored history on the motor vehicle of the services that were performed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as an information system, by which a person of the motor vehicle can be informed about an error in the motor vehicle.

[0005] This object is solved by a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding information system according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0006] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for providing an error message for a person in a motor vehicle by an information system of the motor vehicle. An error code is received for an error of the motor vehicle from an onboard-diagnostic device by a receiving device of the information system. An error information is provided depending on the received error code by an electronic computing device of the information system. The error information and the error code is displayed as the error message for the person by a display device of the information system.

[0007] Therefore, the proposed solution is to have a digital application as a part of the motor vehicle's infotainment system, for example the head unit display. The motor vehicle's onboard-diagnostic system-tool will be connected to the infotainment system's hardware, so that these two components can communicate.

[0008] According to an embodiment the error code is classified depending on a severity of the error.

[0009] In another embodiment depending on an input of the person historical displayed error messages are deleted.

[0010] In another embodiment the received error code is forwarded to an external electronic computing device.

[0011] In another embodiment depending on the error code a service at a service center is automatically scheduled and relevant error code is automatically provided to the service center.

[0012] In another embodiment an amount of specific error codes captured in the motor vehicle is counted.

[0013] In particular, the method is a computer-implemented method. Therefore, another aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to the preceding aspect.

[0014] A still further aspect of the invention relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product according to the preceding aspect.

[0015] Another aspect of the invention relates to an information system of a motor vehicle for providing an error message for a person in the motor vehicle, comprising at least one receiving device, one electronic computing device, and one display device, wherein the information system is configured for performing a method according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the method is performed by the information system.

[0016] Advantageous embodiments of the method are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the information system. Therefore, the information system comprises means for performing the method.

[0017] A computing unit / electronic computing device may in particular be understood as a data processing device, which comprises processing circuitry. The computing unit can therefore in particular process data to perform computing operations. This may also include operations to perform indexed accesses to a data structure, for example a look-up table, LUT.

[0018] In particular, the computing unit may include one or more computers, one or more microcontrollers, and / or one or more integrated circuits, for example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits, ASIC, one or more field-programmable gate arrays, FPGA, and / or one or more systems on a chip, SoC. The computing unit may also include one or more processors, for example one or more microprocessors, one or more central processing units, CPU, one or more graphics processing units, GPU, and / or one or more signal processors, in particular one or more digital signal processors, DSP. The computing unit may also include a physical or a virtual cluster of computers or other of said units.

[0019] In various embodiments, the computing unit includes one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more memory units.

[0020] A memory unit may be implemented as a volatile data memory, for example a dynamic random access memory, DRAM, or a static random access memory, SRAM, or as a non-volatile data memory, for example a read-only memory, ROM, a programmable read-only memory, PROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory, EPROM, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, EEPROM, a flash memory or flash EEPROM, a ferroelectric random access memory, FRAM, a magnetoresistive random access memory, MRAM, or a phase-change random access memory, PCRAM.

[0021] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and / or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and / or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0023] The drawings show in:

[0024] Fig. 1 a schematic block diagram according to an embodiment of the method;

[0025] Fig. 2 another schematic block diagram according to an embodiment of the method; and

[0026] Fig. 3 a schematic view on an embodiment of a display device.

[0027] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0029] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0030] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises” or “comprise” does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0031] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram according to an embodiment of an information system 10. The information system 10 is for a motor vehicle 30 (Fig. 2). The information system 10 comprises at least one receiving device 12, one electronic computing device 14, as well as one display device 16.

[0033] According to the shown embodiment, for example an error 18 at an engine 20 of the motor vehicle 30 may occur. The error 18 is transmitted to a so-called onboard-diagnostic-ll system, which may also be regarded as the onboard-diagnostic device 22. An error information 24 is provided depending on the received error code 26 by the electronic computing device 14. The error information 24 as well as the error code 26 is displayed as error message 28 on the display device 16.

[0034] Fig. 2 shows the motor vehicle 30. The information system 10 may be configured for transmitting the error code 26 to an external electronic computing device 32, which may be for example a cloud. The cloud 32 may comprise a database 34 for storing the error code 26. Furthermore, a web browser application as a backend webservice 36 is shown. Furthermore, a service center 38 is shown. In particular, the proposed solution is to have the digital application as a part of the motor vehicle's infotainment system, for example the head unit. The vehicle's onboard-diagnostic-ll system is connected to the information system 10, so that these two components can communicate.

[0035] The digital application on the head unit display has the following features. Send a notification to the head unit display when a new onboard-diagnostic-ll error is detected, so the display device 16 can display a pop-up / notification to indicate a new error 18 is detected. Displaying any active onboard-diagnostic-ll codes with a meaningful descriptions and category for how difficult it is to fix the error 18 as the error information 24. This may be classified in a simple error 18, that the user can easily fix the issue with some basic instructions. Furthermore, medium errors 18 can be detected, wherein basic automotive tools and instructions are required to fix the issue. If not a handy person, a service shop can easily take care of this. Furthermore, the error 18 can be categorized in complex, this may require some troubleshooting and fixes. It is best reserved for a qualified service shop. Furthermore, the error 18 can be classified as critical, wherein here the person has to bring the motor vehicle 30 to a qualified service shop as soon as possible. Furthermore, all onboard-diagnostic-ll active codes may be reset. Furthermore, a history of all onboard-diagnostic-ll items are displayed as well as the fixes.

[0036] In addition, there is the backend webservice 36. The information system 10 can communicate with the backend webservice 36, but the vehicle owner has to agree to the terms of conditions to store the vehicle's owner's information in the backend webservers 36. Interaction is for example upon detection of a new onboard-diagnostic-ll fault, the information system 10 may notify the backend webservice 36 which error 18 is detected. At a minimum, the following information is provided from the information system 10 to the backend servers: the vehicle identification, the vehicle model, the vehicle year, the onboard-diagnostic-ll error code 26, the number of times this error code 26 was triggered on this motor vehicle 30, wherein this is important in case a faulty part breaks more than once, and a time stamp in which this error code 26 was detected. The information system 10 may also call the backend webservice API 40 to schedule a service with the qualified service center 38. Once the onboard-diagnostic-ll error 26 is corrected on the motor vehicle 30, the information system 10 may notify the backend servers that the error 18 has been fixed. At a minimum, the following information is provided from the information system 10 to the backend servers: the vehicle ID, the vehicle model, the vehicle year, onboard-diagnostic-ll error code 26, number of times this error code 26 was triggered on this motor vehicle 30, time stamp in which this error code 26 was detected, and time stamp in which this error code 28 was fixed.

[0037] In addition to the above functionalities, the backend webservice 36 also may generate a matrix for various use cases, for example to identify fault components and improve product reliability. Some examples are listed below. For a particular vehicle year and model, are there onboard-diagnostic-ll errors that have triggered multiple times. For a particular vehicle year and model, how long does it take to fix a particular onboard-diagnostic-second error code 26. What percentage of fixes were done by the owner versus a qualified service center. Furthermore, there will be listed, what is the average number of the onboard-diagnostic-ll errors 18 that uses experience in the first year. How about three years, how about five years, how about ten years.

[0038] Fig. 3 shows a schematic top view according to an embodiment of a display device 16. In particular, active codes 42, reset codes 44 as well as the service history 46 is shown. Furthermore, a home screen 48 as well as a back button 50 are provided. signs Information system Receiving device Electronic computing device Display device Error Engine Onboard diagnostic device Error information Error code Error message Motor vehicle External electronic computing device Database Backend webservice Service center API Active codes Reset codes Service history Home screen Back button

Claims

1. A method for providing an error message (28) for a person in a motor vehicle (30) by an information system (10) of the motor vehicle (30), comprising the steps of: - receiving an error code (26) for an error (18) of the motor vehicle (30) from an onboard diagnostic device (22) by a receiving device (12) of the information system (10);- providing an error information (24) depending on the received error code (26) by an electronic computing device (14) of the information system (10); and- displaying the error information (24) and the error code (26) as the error message (28) for the person by a display device (16) of the information system (10).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe error code (26) is classified depending on a severity of the error (18).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatdepending on an input of the person historical displayed error messages (28) are deleted.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatthe received error code (26) is forwarded to an external electronic computing device (32).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thatdepending on the error code (26) a service at a service center (38) is automatically scheduled and the relevant error code is automatically provided to the service center.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in thatan amount of specific error codes (26) captured in the motor vehicle (30) is counted.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in thatadditionally the information system (10) generates a matrix to identify fault components and improve product reliability.

8. A computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product according to claim 8.

10. An information system (10) of a motor vehicle (30) for providing an error message (28) for a person in the motor vehicle (30), comprising at least one receiving device (12), one electronic computing device (14), and one display device (16), wherein the information system (10) is configured for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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