A method for planning a route of an at least in part electrically operated motor vehicle, a computer program product, a non-transitory computer-readable

Abstract

A method for planning a route of an at least in part electrically operated motor vehicle 10 by a navigation system 12 of the motor vehicle. An input of a user 18 into a touch-sensitive display device

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for planning a route of an at least in part electrically operated motor vehicle by a navigation 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 navigation system. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] In the state of the art is known, that a charging stop for at least in part electrically operated vehicle may be suggested by a navigation system. In particular, a route may be planned, and corresponding charging stops may be suggested along the route.

[0003] In particular, at least in part electrically operated motor vehicles are not being used by long-distance travelers as much as using an internal combustion engine vehicles. 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 a corresponding navigation system, by which an activity for a person is suggested during a charging stop.

[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 navigation system.

[0006] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for planning a route of an at least in part electrically operated motor vehicle by a navigation system of the motor vehicle. An input of a user of the motor vehicle is captured by a capturing device of a navigation system, wherein the input describes a potential user activity during a charging of the motor vehicle. A digital map with charging stations is provided by an electronic computing device of the navigation device, wherein the digital map assigns the charging stations and potential activities in the surroundings of the charging station. The route of the motor vehicle is planned depending on the captured input and the provided digital map by the electronic computing device.

[0007] Therefore, to provide personalized activity suggestions during the charging stop, the method provides the user the opportunity to use the charging time in an effective or desired way instead of just waiting which plays a major role in discouraging use of the electric vehicles for long-distance travel.

[0008] In particular, the method provides options to plan the charging stops and advise the user that they can use the charging time in a desired way. This may increase the probability of using electrical vehicles for long-distance drives. Thus, more consumers may use of an at least in part electrically operated motor vehicle or a full electrically operated motor vehicle.

[0009] According to an embodiment the capturing device is provided as a touch-sensitive display device.

[0010] In another embodiment the route is planned depending on a starting point of the motor vehicle and a destination.

[0011] In another embodiment a charging station is suggested, depending on the potential user activity.

[0012] In another embodiment a plurality of potential user activities may be taken into consideration for planning the route.

[0013] In another embodiment a potential charging time at the charging station is taken into consideration for planning the route.

[0014] 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.

[0015] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product according to the preceding aspect.

[0016] Furthermore, the present invention to a navigation system for planning a route of an at least in part electrically operated motor vehicle, comprising at least one capturing device and one electronic computing device, wherein the navigation system is configured for performing a method according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the method is performed by the navigation system.

[0017] A still further aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least a navigation system according to the preceding aspect. The motor vehicle is an at least in part electrically operated motor vehicle or a full electrically operated motor vehicle.

[0018] The navigation system as well as the motor vehicle may comprise means for performing the method according to the preceding aspect.

[0019] Advantageous embodiments of the method are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the computer program product, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the navigation system, as well as the motor vehicle.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] In various embodiments, the computing unit includes one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more memory units.

[0023] 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.

[0024] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawing. 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 DRAWING

[0025] 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.

[0026] The drawing shows in:

[0027] Fig. 1 a schematic view according to the embodiment of a motor vehicle comprising an embodiment of a navigation system.

[0028] In the figure the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view according to an embodiment of a motor vehicle 10. The motor vehicle 10 is at least in part electrically operated or full electrically operated. The motor vehicle 10 comprises at least a navigation device 12. The navigation device 12 comprises at least one electronic computing device 14 as well as one capturing device 16. The capturing device 16 may be configured as a touch-sensitive display device. In particular, the capturing device 16 may receive an input of a user 18 of the motor vehicle 10.

[0034] In particular Fig. 1 shows a method for planning a route 20 of the at least in part electrically operated motor vehicle 10 by the navigation system 12. The input of the user 18 is captured by the capturing device 16 of the navigation system 12, wherein the input describes a potential user activity 22, which is shown in Fig. 1 as a shopping mall, during a charging of the motor vehicle 10. A digital map 24 with charging stations 26 is provided by the electronic computing device 14 of the navigation system 12, wherein the digital map 24 assigns charging stations 26 and potential activities 22 in the surrounding area 28 of the charging station 26. The route 20 is planned depending on the captured input and the provided digital map 24 by the electronic computing device 14.

[0035] In particular, the capturing device is provided as a touch-sensitive display device. Furthermore, the route 20 is planned depending on a starting point 30 of the motor vehicle 10 and a destination point 32. Furthermore, a charging station 26 is suggested depending on the potential user activity 22. Furthermore, a plurality of potential user activities 22 may be taken into consideration for planning the route 20. Furthermore, a potential charging time at the charging station 26 is taken into consideration for planning the route 20.

[0036] In particular, a pop-up message on the display of the motor vehicle 10 may be displayed for the user 18. For example, the pop-up message may be displayed on the head unit, after logging into the user profile on the head unit. The head unit may include the navigation system 12.

[0037] The pop-up message may contain the following options and the user 18 may choose one or more to plan the charging stop at a particular charging station such as station 26. For example, the user 18 can choose a movie, a tourist preference, a hiking location, a shopping destination, a food location, a book store, a gaming activity, a rest area, a social media preference, or another activity 22. The selection of an activity 22 may remind the user 18 to bring a book if they select a book store, library, or another related activity or to arrive within a particular time frame based on data of the available hours. The activity 22 could also include options to complete certain tasks such as attending a meeting, completing homework, or more. The pop-up message may display one or more selected activities 22 from the user 18 for confirmation. Upon confirmation, the navigation system 12 may determine the route 20 by adding a charging stop based at least one of the activities 22, the charging stations 26, the starting point 30, the destination point 32, or the surrounding area 28. For example, if a user 18 selects an activity 22 to shop during the charging time, a charging station 26 in the surrounding area 28 of a shopping mall may be added.

[0038] Additionally, the motor vehicle 10 may comprise a GPS antenna 34 to locate the location of the motor vehicle 10. Furthermore, a B2C (business to customer) online connectivity to retrieve real time information about business hours of operation, availability, and reviews about the location / shop or furthermore may be provided. Furthermore, a database to provide charging, activity, routing, and / or comparable information is provided.

[0039] Currently, in particular according to the state of the art, an electrical vehicle user 18 may be hesitant in using an electrical vehicle for long-distance destination. The user 18 may think it is time-consuming because charging takes comparatively much higher time than filling gasoline to achieve the same vehicle range, and difficulty in finding charging stations 26 in a desired location. Therefore, the provided method has the option to plan the charging stops based on a selected activity 22 and to advise the user 18 that they can utilize the charging time for the selected activity 22. The provided method may increase the probability of using the electrical motor vehicle 10 for long-distance drives. List of reference signs 10 Motor vehicle 12 Navigation system 14 Electronic computing device 16 Capturing device 18 User 20 Route 22 Activity 24 Digital map 26 Charging station 28 Surrounding area 30 Starting point 32 Destination point 34 GPS device

Claims

1. A method for planning a route (20) of an at least in part electrically operated motor vehicle (10) by a navigation system (12) of the motor vehicle (10), comprising the steps of:- capturing an input of a user (18) of the motor vehicle (10) by a capturing device (16) of the navigation system (12), wherein the input describes an activity (22) during a charging of the motor vehicle (10);- providing a digital map (24) with charging stations (26) by an electronic computing device (14) of the navigation system (12), wherein the digital map (24) assigns the charging stations (26) and activities (22) in the surroundings (28) of the charging station (26); and- planning the route (20) of the motor vehicle (10) depending on the captured input and the provided digital map (24) by the electronic computing device (14).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe capturing device (16) is provided as a touch sensitive display device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatthe route (20) is planned depending on a starting point (30) of the motor vehicle (10) and a destination point (32).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thata charging station (26) is suggested depending on the activity (22).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thata plurality of activities (22) may be taken into consideration for planning the route (20).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in thata potential charging time at the charging station (26) is taken into consideration for planning the route (20).

7. A computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product according to claim 7.

9. A navigation system (12) for planning a route (20) of an at least in part electrically operated motor vehicle (10), comprising at least one capturing device (16) and one electronic computing device (14), wherein the navigation system (12) is configured for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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