A method for operating a motor vehicle, a computer program product, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a support system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle (10) by a support system (12) of the motor vehicle (10), comprising the steps of: determining a critical fault of the motor vehicle (10) by a detection device (14) of the support system (12); switching from an operating mode of the motor vehicle (10) to a limp mode of the motor vehicle (10) depending on the determined critical fault by an electronic computing device (16) of the support system (12); and providing an information message (26) from a third party (24) about an operating instruction for a passenger (20) inside the motor vehicle (10) by the electronic computing device (16). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer program product, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as to a support system (12).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle by a support 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 support system. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] In the state of the art, a lack of warning of a passenger inside the motor vehicle or a customer service during a limp mode is known. For example, the limp mode may be operated during a thermal propagation or a loss of the motor, or other faults. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a method, which can overcome the presented problem. 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 support system, by which an operating of a motor vehicle can be provided 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 support system according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0005] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle by a support system of the motor vehicle. A critical fault of the motor vehicle is determined by a detection device of the support system. It is switched from an operating mode of the motor vehicle to a limp mode of the motor vehicle by an electronic computing device of the support system. An information message from a third party is provided about an operating instruction for a passenger inside the motor vehicle by the electronic computing device.

[0006] Therefore, an increased safety during fault events may be provided. Furthermore, an increased customer satisfaction may be provided.

[0007] There are no other viable ways to inform the customer of how to proceed or what next steps to take during technical fault limp mode activation in the state of the art. The invention therefore aims to inform the customer of how to proceed or what next steps to take during the critical fault limp mode activation.

[0008] In the limp mode the motor vehicle may limit power to protect it from possible damage, while still allowing it to transit on for example a garage or a destination.

[0009] According to an embodiment the operation instruction is provided by a workshop for the motor vehicle.

[0010] In another embodiment an evacuation instructions as the operation instruction is provided.

[0011] In another embodiment the determined fault is presented for the passenger.

[0012] In another embodiment a predetermined contact of the passenger is automatically informed about the fault.

[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] 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.

[0015] A still further aspect of the invention relates to a support system for operating a motor vehicle, comprising at least one detection device and one electronic computing device, wherein the support system is configured for performing a method according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the method is performed by the support system.

[0016] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least the support system according to the preceding aspect.

[0017] 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 support system, as well as the motor vehicle. The support system as well as the motor vehicle comprises means for performing the method.

[0018] A computing unit 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] In various embodiments, the computing unit includes one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more memory units.

[0021] 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.

[0022] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of 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 figure and / or shown in the figure 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

[0023] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawing, which is incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrates exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the figure 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.

[0024] The drawing shows in:

[0025] Fig. 1 a schematic side view according to the embodiment of a motor vehicle comprising an embodiment of a support system.

[0026] In the figure 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 side view according to an embodiment of a motor vehicle 10. The motor vehicle 10 comprises at least a support system 12. The support system 12 is configured for operating the motor vehicle 10.

[0032] The support system 12 comprises at least one detection device 14 and one electronic computing device 16. Furthermore, the support system 12 may comprise an information device 18 for presenting an information for a passenger 20 of the motor vehicle 10.

[0033] Furthermore, the support system 12 may comprise a communication device 22 for communicating with a third party 24.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the invention, a method for operating the motor vehicle 10 by the support system 12 is provided. A critical fault of the motor vehicle 10 is detected by the detection device 14. The electronic computing device 16 is configured to switch from an operating mode of the motor vehicle 10 to a limp mode of the motor vehicle 10, depending on the determined critical fault. An information message from the third party 24 about an operating instruction for the passenger 20 is provided inside the motor vehicle 10 by the electronic computing device 16.

[0035] According to an embodiment, the operation instruction 26 is provided by a workshop for the motor vehicle 10. Furthermore, an evacuation instruction as the operation instruction 26 is provided.

[0036] As already mentioned, the determined fault may also be presented for the passenger, for example on the information device 16.

[0037] In another embodiment, a predetermined contact of the passenger 20 may be automatically informed about the fault.

[0038] In particular Fig. 1 shows that during a fault, the fault is determined and provided as an informational resource to the passenger 20, which may be, for example, the driver. Therefore, for example customer services, an evacuation procedure for a thermally event or other information messages 26 may be provided. This may include a red light, or other indicators such as SOS alerts, operational steps, in particular, what the passenger 20 has to do.

[0039] Furthermore, a feature to call automatically / manually technical customer services to intervene in case of the critical fault / thermal event is provided. The feature can be selected by the passenger 20. The feature may call / alert preferred contacts in the case of catastrophic event. The feature may guide the passenger 20 step by step on how to proceed the case of the fault. reference signs Motor vehicle Support system Detection device Electronic computing device Information device Passenger Communication device Third party Information message

Claims

1. A method for operating a motor vehicle (10) by a support system (12) of the motor vehicle (10), comprising the steps of:- determining a critical fault of the motor vehicle (10) by a detection device (14) of the support system (12);- switching from an operating mode of the motor vehicle (10) to a limp mode of the motor vehicle (10) depending on the determined critical fault by an electronic computing device (16) of the support system (12); and- providing an information message (26) from a third party (24) about an operating instruction for a passenger (20) inside the motor vehicle (10) by the electronic computing device (16).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe operation instruction is provided by a workshop for the motor vehicle (10).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatan evacuation instruction as the operation instruction is provided.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in thatthe determined fault is presented for the passenger (20).

5. The method according to claim 1 or 4,characterized in thata predetermined contact of the passenger (20) is automatically informed about the fault.

6. A computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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

8. A support system (12) for operating a motor vehicle (10), comprising at least one detection device (14) and one electronic computing device (16), wherein the support system (12) is configured for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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