A method for providing at least one capability of at least one motor vehicle for a user by an electronic computing device, computer program product

Abstract

A computer 10 receives 24 information about capabilities of vehicles 16, 18, for example what sensors 12, 14 a vehicle has or whether a vehicle has a camera. The computer also receives 22 a user’s req

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for providing at least one capability of at least one motor vehicle for a user by an electronic computing device. 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 electronic computing device. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] Motor vehicles according to the state of the art may comprise a plurality of capabilities and functionalities that is growing rapidly as the technology evolves. These capabilities generally are controlled and impact the driver / operator / passenger, or are designed for safety and awareness, for example headlights, horns, turn signals, and furthermore, for both the car and others on the road, or perform miscellaneous or ancillary functions, for example gathering telematics for product improvement / accidents, car health monitoring, sensing or furthermore. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding electronic computing device, by which the capabilities of a motor vehicle can be used in an improved manner.

[0004] 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 electronic computing device according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0005] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for providing at least one capability of at least one motor vehicle for a user by an electronic computing device. An information about the at least one capability of the at least one motor vehicle is received by the electronic computing device. A request of the user for the requested capability is received by the electronic computing device. A release request for the capability is generated and is transmitted to the at least one motor vehicle by the electronic computing device. A release answer for the capability is received from the at least one motor vehicle by the electronic computing device. Depending on the received release answer, an availability information for the at least one motor vehicle for providing the at least one capability for the user is generated and transmitted by the electronic computing device.

[0006] Therefore, the capabilities of the motor vehicle can be used in improved manner. In particular, the capabilities of the motor vehicle can be used by other users, who may request a capability of the motor vehicle.

[0007] For example, if the user wants to measure a size of a parking lot, the user may request a motor vehicle to come to user’s requested position for measuring the size and the owner of the motor vehicle may drive the motor vehicle to that requested position and the motor vehicle may measure the size of the parking lot requested by the user. Therefore, the capabilities, for example sensor capabilities of the motor vehicle, may be used by other users and therefore a high functional usage of the motor vehicle may be provided.

[0008] According to an embodiment depending on a release criterion of the at least one capability the release answer is received.

[0009] In another embodiment a list of possible capabilities of a plurality of motor vehicles is stored by the electronic computing device.

[0010] In another embodiment a plurality of requested capabilities is received by the electronic computing device and a plurality of motor vehicles is requested for providing their capabilities.

[0011] In another embodiment additionally a type of the motor vehicle assigned with the capability is received.

[0012] In another embodiment a potential operation mode of the at least one motor vehicle is assigned with the capability and received.

[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] Furthermore, the present invention relates to an electronic computing device for providing at least one capability of at least one motor vehicle for a user, wherein the electronic computing device is configured for performing a method according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the method is performed by the electronic computing device.

[0016] Advantageous embodiments of the method are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the computer program product, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as the electronic computing device. The electronic computing device comprises means for performing the method according to the preceding aspect.

[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 view according to an embodiment of an electronic computing device with a plurality of motor vehicles; and

[0025] Fig. 2 a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of the method.

[0026] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view according to an embodiment of an electronic computing device 10. The electronic computing device 10 is configured for providing at least one capability 12, 14 of at least one motor vehicle 16, 18 for a user 20.

[0032] In particular, as shown in Fig. 1, the user 20 may transmit a request 22 for a requested capability 12, 14. The request is received by the electronic computing device 10.

[0033] A first motor vehicle 16 may transmit an information 24 about the first capability 12 of the first motor vehicle 16. A second vehicle 18 may transmit an information 24 about its second capability 14 to the electronic computing device 10. For example, the electronic computing device 10 may store this information 24 and generates a list of capabilities 12, 14 of the motor vehicle 16, 18. The electronic computing device 10 may generate and transmit a release request 26 for the capability 12, 14 to the at least one motor vehicle 16, 18. After release of the capabilities 12, 14 of the motor vehicle 16, 18 the motor vehicle 16, 18 may transmit a release answer 28 to the electronic computing device 10. Depending on the received release answer 28 an availability information 30 for the at least one motor vehicle 16,18 for providing the at least one capability 12, 14 for the user 20 is generated and transmitted to the motor vehicles 16, 18.

[0034] In particular, depending on a release criterion of the at least one capability 12, 14 the release answer 28 is received. Furthermore, as already mentioned, a list of possible capabilities 12, 14 of a plurality of motor vehicles 16, 18 is stored by the electronic computing device 10. Furthermore, a plurality of requested capabilities 12, 14 is received by the electronic computing device 10 by the user 20 and a plurality of motor vehicles 16, 18 is requested for providing their capabilities 12, 14. Furthermore, additionally a type of the motor vehicle 16, 18 is assigned with the capability 12, 14. Furthermore, a potential operation mode of the at least one motor vehicle 16, 18 is assigned with the capability 12, 14 and received.

[0035] For example, as shown, the user 20 may want to create a video, for example a music video, and wants to have different motor vehicles 16, 18. The user 20 then can generate the request 22 in order to commission the motor vehicle 16, 18 to come to a predetermined position. Furthermore, for example the surroundings at a position can be captured by a camera as the capability 12, 14, and these captured surroundings can then be used by the user 20.

[0036] In particular, another use case of the electronic computing device 10 may be for example a so-called marketplace of capabilities. Owners of the motor vehicles 16, 18 may register their motor vehicles 16, 18 if it qualifies via an application or a website. The registration of the vehicle may trigger the vehicle to send all the vehicles capabilities 12, 14 the owners want to put in the marketplace along with the price or other information such as pre-requisites desired. The price might include time clauses, for example less expensive in the middle of a night, blackout peers, for example when the motor vehicle 16, 18 is used by the owner itself. The user 20 may be allowed to request a capability 12, 14 with features such as location, timeslots desired, capability 12, 14, number of vehicles, type of vehicle, special instruction, for example such as flashing the headlights, opening a window, furthermore, and for example the price. Once the capabilities 12, 14 and factors are selected and the price is set.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of the method. In particular, Fig. 1 shows in a first step S1 that the information 24 about the at least one capability 12, 14 of the at least one motor vehicle 16, 18 is received by the electronic computing device 10. In a second step S2 the request 22 of the user 20 is received by the electronic computing device 10. Ina third step S3 the release request 26 is generated and transmitted to the at least one motor vehicle 16, 18 by the electronic computing device 10. In a fourth step S4, the release answer 28 for the capability 12, 14 is received from the at least one motor vehicle 16, 18 by the electronic computing device 10. In a fifth step S5 depending on the received release answer 28 the availability information 30 is generated and transmitted for the user 20 by the electronic computing device 10. signs Electronic computing device First capability Second capability First motor vehicle Second motor vehicle User Request Information Release request Release answer Availability information Steps of the method

Claims

1. A method for providing at least one capability (12, 14) of at least one motor vehicle (16, 18) for a user (20) by an electronic computing device (10), comprising the steps of:- receiving an information (24) about the at least one capability (12, 14) of the at least motor vehicle (16, 18) by the electronic computing device (10);- receiving a request (22) of the user (20) for a capability (12, 14) by the electronic computing device (10);- generating and transmitting a release request (26) for the capability (12, 14) to the at least one motor vehicle (16, 18) by the electronic computing device (10);- receiving a release answer (28) for the capability (12, 14) from the at least one motor vehicle (16, 18) by the electronic computing device (10); and- depending on the received release answer (28), generating and transmitting an availability information (30) of the at least one motor vehicle (16, 18) for providing the at least one capability (12, 14) for the user (20) by the electronic computing device (10).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in thatdepending on a release criterion of the at least one capability (12, 14) the release answer (28) is received.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thata list of possible capabilities (12,14) of a plurality of motor vehicles (16, 18) is stored by the electronic computing device (10).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thata plurality of requested capabilities (12, 14) is received by the electronic computing device (10) and a plurality of motor vehicles (16, 18) is requested for providing their capabilities (12, 14).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thatadditionally a type of the motor vehicle (16, 18) assigned with the capability (12, 14) is received.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in thata potential operation mode of the at least one motor vehicle (16, 18) is assigned with the capability (12, 14) and received.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in thatan avaialabilty information (30) further comprises of pricing, current location, earliest availability of the capability (12, 14), pre-requisites, and other necessary information as determined by the motor vehicle (16, 18) or the owner of the motor vehicle (16, 18).

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 electronic computing device (10) for providing at least one capability (12, 14) of at least one motor vehicle (16, 18) for a user (20), wherein the electronic computingdevice (10) is configured for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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