Control method for automatically establishing or automatically switching vehicle communication for data exchange between a vehicle and a remote station - Patents.com

Abstract

A control method for automatically establishing or automatically switching vehicle communication for data exchange between a vehicle and a remote station is provided, which can reduce the cost and network load of costly technology-intensive networks. The present invention relates to a control method for automatically establishing or automatically switching vehicle communications for data exchange between a vehicle (1) traveling at various autonomous driving levels and a remote station (2), in which data is transmitted between the vehicle (1) and the remote station (2) via at least one network connection type among a network connection (3) in a ground-based network (4), a network connection (3) in a non-ground-based network (5) and a parallel network connection (3) between the ground-based network (4) and the non-ground-based network (5), the selection of the network connection type being based on the currently set and / or requested autonomous driving level.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a control method for automatically establishing or automatically switching vehicle communication for data exchange between a vehicle and a remote station according to the preamble of claim 1 .

[0002] In the field of data transmission in mobile radio networks, it is known to adapt the quality and rate of data transmission based on the user's requirements, i.e., a certain transmission quality and / or transmission rate can be promised to the user by the provider, for example under individual contractual guarantees, which can be defined, for example, by specifying Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. Such quality of service represents the quality of the communication service from the point of view of the respective user and includes various quality requirements for data transmission.

[0003] More generally, it is known that the selection of an appropriate network connection depends on quality of service requirements.

[0004] For wider range of wireless data transmission, terrestrial networks, especially mobile radio networks, and non-terrestrial networks, especially satellite communications, are used today. Patent Document 1 below discloses a mobile terminal device that automatically switches between a satellite network and a terrestrial network. This switching can be performed according to a data protocol selected by the user or automatically.

[0005] In addition, so-called network slicing has been proposed to guarantee particularly high data transmission speeds to specific users in mobile wireless networks (see "5G Service-Guaranteed Network Slicing White Paper" Version 1.0, published on February 28, 2017 [China Mobile, Huawei, Deutsche Telekom, Volkswagen]).

[0006] Thus, for mobile data transmission, network connections that ensure the highest data transmission quality and transmission speed are certainly available in the network. However, the use of such network connections and the reservation of the corresponding connection capacity are associated with relatively high costs. Furthermore, with the increasing introduction of the technology of the "Internet of Things" (IoT), for example in the development of M2M (Machine-to-Machine) services or autonomous driving of automobiles, such high-speed network connections may become congested. In particular, in autonomous or semi-autonomous automobiles, a large amount of data is transmitted between the vehicle and a remote station, which may be one or more other vehicles, or parts of the traffic infrastructure, or a manually operable terminal device, for the control of the vehicle as per the present invention. If all such data is transmitted over the available network with the highest data quality and data transmission speed, this leads to high costs and correspondingly high load on the network.

[0007] The following Patent Document 2 discloses a system for improving the function of an autonomous vehicle in autonomous driving levels 3 to 5, in which a supercomputer with extremely high learning capabilities is used in a platform that communicates with the vehicle in order to improve the learning results of each vehicle. Data transmission is performed between a remote station, i.e., a cloud-based infrastructure including a supercomputer, and the vehicle. Data from each vehicle in autonomous driving levels 3 to 5 is transmitted to the cloud-based infrastructure via a mobile radio network or other terrestrial network, for example, LTE (registered trademark), WCDMA (registered trademark), UMTS, CDMA2000, HSPA+, GSM, or satellite network, if available. The cloud-based infrastructure analyzes the data and transmits the latest information to the autonomous vehicle.

[0008] The following Patent Document 3 discloses the selection of the best available network connection when a vehicle moves along a section. A network coverage map is generated, and using this, the vehicle knows which network is available at which location, with what signal strength. This allows the vehicle to select one or more types of network connection in various areas along the route to optimize communication.

[0009] The following Patent Document 4 discloses a semi-autonomous or fully autonomous vehicle, in which the navigation system takes into account, in addition to conventional parameters, which parts of a section the vehicle can drive autonomously, allowing the driver to preferentially select a route where the vehicle can drive autonomously over a wide area.

[0010] The following Patent Document 5 discloses a method, an apparatus and a system for an autonomous vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 98 / 10521 A2 [Patent Document 2] US Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0258251 A1 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 9 565 625 B1 [Patent Document 4] US Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0219364 A1 [Patent Document 5] International Publication No. 2020 / 107991 A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a control method for automatically establishing or automatically switching vehicle communication for data exchange between a vehicle and a remote station, which can reduce costs and network load, particularly in costly technology-intensive networks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The problem according to the invention is solved by a control method with the features of claim 1. Advantageous and particularly preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0014] According to the present invention, instead of all data being transmitted using the best available network connection, an appropriate selection of available network connections is made based on the current or required autonomous driving level of the vehicle. This makes it possible, for example, to avoid unnecessary parallel network connections (Multi-Connectivity-Connections) in various networks, which would otherwise increase the operating costs and network load of these networks. Thus, network resources are utilized more efficiently than before.

[0015] In particular, according to the control method of the present invention for automatically establishing a new vehicle communication or automatically switching an existing vehicle communication for data exchange between a vehicle and a remote station, the vehicle travels at different autonomous driving levels and data is transmitted between the vehicle and the remote station via at least one of the following network connection types: a network connection in a ground-based network, a network connection in a non-ground-based network, and a parallel network connection in a ground-based network and a non-ground-based network, the selection of the network connection type being based on the currently set and / or requested autonomous driving level.

[0016] In this case, the automated driving level can be defined in accordance with SAE J3016 in the version effective at the priority date of this application. In particular, five automated driving levels are envisaged, where at level 0, no automation is provided. That is, all aspects of the dynamic driving task are consistently performed by the human driver, even if a supportive warning or intervention system is used. At level 5, full automation is envisaged, where all aspects of the dynamic driving task are consistently performed by the automated driving system under all driving and environmental conditions that could be overcome by a human driver. At level 1, the driver is supported by a driver assistance system that uses information about the driving environment to intervene in terms of acceleration, deceleration, or steering in certain driving situations, while the human driver is expected to assume all remaining dynamic driving tasks. At level 2, the driver is supported by one or more driver assistance systems that use information about the driving environment to intervene in terms of acceleration / deceleration and steering in certain driving situations, while the human driver is expected to assume all remaining dynamic driving tasks. At level 3, all aspects of the dynamic driving task are dependently automated, with the exception that the human driver still assumes control of the vehicle upon request to intervene. At level 4, all aspects of the dynamic driving task are highly automated, without the human driver having to intervene or assume control of the vehicle upon request.

[0017] In particular, the respective fastest and / or highest quality network connection type may be selected if a higher level of automated driving is set and / or requested, e.g. according to one embodiment only at level 3, 4 or 5, according to another embodiment only at level 4 or 5 or according to another embodiment only at level 5. If available, for this purpose in particular the simultaneous use of at least one terrestrial network and a non-terrestrial network is selected by establishing the aforementioned parallel network connections.

[0018] According to the present invention, since the network connections in the terrestrial network and the network connections in the non-terrestrial network are independent of each other, the best and most efficient network connection can be selected, thereby providing sufficient network connections over a very wide geographical area.

[0019] In case parallel network connections of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks are used, a connection establishment according to EN-DC (E-UTRA-NR dual connectivity), or SUL (Supplement Uplink), or SDL (Supplement Downlink), or even as Carrier Aggregation (CA), as described in particular in the versions of the ETSI or 3GPP (registered trademark) communication standards in force on the priority date of this application, can be realised.

[0020] Particularly preferably, the selection of the network connection type is additionally based on software and / or hardware applications that are activated and / or required in the vehicle, each of which has one of a number of Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. For example, the selection of the network connection type can be based on applications that are activated in the vehicle user interface and / or applications that are activated on a smartphone connected to the vehicle user interface, or based on settings in the applications.

[0021] The quality of service requirements may be differentiated, for example, by latency (delay), jitter, data error rate, packet loss rate, and / or data throughput. In particular, the quality of service requirements may be differentiated by different Rx levels, Tx levels, and / or different RxQual values.

[0022] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the selection of the network connection type is made on the basis of currently achieved and / or predefined signal propagation times.

[0023] Particularly preferably, in the terrestrial and / or non-terrestrial based network, multiple network connections with different signal propagation times and / or different data throughput rates can be selected, and the selection of one of the multiple network connections in the relevant network is based on the configured and / or required level of autonomous driving and / or on the software and / or hardware applications activated and / or required in the vehicle. Thus, the optimization of the network connection selection can be further improved and a very efficient utilization of the available networks can be achieved.

[0024] Data transmission in non-terrestrial networks is in particular carried out via satellites.

[0025] Data transmission in terrestrial-based networks takes place, for example, via one or several mobile radio networks, in particular using different mobile radio standards.

[0026] Particularly preferably, individual satellites and / or groups of satellites in different Earth orbits can be selected for data transmission based on the set and / or required level of autonomous driving and / or based on software and / or hardware applications activated and / or required in the vehicle. For example, for a relatively high level of autonomous driving, a relatively nearby satellite and / or a relatively nearby group of satellites can be selected, in particular a satellite or group of satellites in a relatively nearby orbit.

[0027] Accordingly, at a relatively high level of autonomous driving, in a network connection in a terrestrial network, if various mobile radio standards offer various selectable data transmission rates, a mobile radio standard having a relatively high data transmission rate can be selected.

[0028] In the terrestrial network, in addition to or instead of the mobile radio network, a preferably WLAN-based network connection can also be selected. Here too, at a relatively high level of automated driving, the above-mentioned selection can be made for a connection with a higher data transmission rate.

[0029] In a non-terrestrial network, in addition to or instead of a satellite network, a drone-assisted network having a corresponding network connection can be used as described above by selecting the corresponding network connection.

[0030] Quality of service requirements which can be used for selecting a network connection type within the scope of the present invention are disclosed, for example, in 3GPP TS 22.885 and TS 22.186, each in the version valid at the priority date of the present application.

[0031] The invention will now be described exemplarily on the basis of embodiments and drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic diagram of the automatic establishment or switching of vehicular communication from a terrestrial-based network to a non-terrestrial-based network according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 illustrates the automatic establishment or switching of vehicular communication from a non-terrestrial-based network to a terrestrial-based network according to the present invention. [Diagram 3]FIG. 2 illustrates a corresponding switch from a terrestrial-based network to parallel network connections of terrestrial and non-terrestrial-based networks. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 illustrates a corresponding switch from a non-terrestrial based network to parallel network connections of terrestrial and non-terrestrial based networks. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 1 which is connected to a remote station 2 via a network connection 3 and which exchanges data with the remote station 2 via said network connection 3, whereby the vehicle 1 is autonomously controlled, for example at a relatively low level of automation, for which data exchange takes place. The network connection 3 is established via a ground-based network 4 which comprises one or more selectable mobile radio networks 7, for example with corresponding radio towers.

[0034] With increasing levels of automation, available network connections 3 of higher quality and / or higher speed are utilized. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, such better network connections 3 can be established via a non-terrestrial based network 5, which establishes the network connection 3 via satellites 6. Thus, a request or setting of a relatively high level of automation will trigger a switchover of the network connection 3 to the non-terrestrial based network 5.

[0035] In the situation shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2, for example, it is determined that the network connection 3 in the terrestrial network 4 is better than the network connection 3 set in the non-terrestrial network 5, while still setting a relatively high level of automation. Therefore, the network connection 3 is switched to the terrestrial network 4.

[0036] 3 shows a situation where either a higher level of automation is desired or the data exchange is not fully achieved with the existing network connection 3 via the terrestrial network 4 and the sole use of the network connection 3 in the non-terrestrial network 5 is also insufficient. Therefore, a switchover to a parallel network connection 3 between the terrestrial network 4 and the non-terrestrial network 5 is made.

[0037] The situation shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to the situation in FIG. 3 where initially only the network connection 3 in the non-terrestrial network 5 exists.

Claims

1. A control method for automatically establishing or automatically switching vehicle communication for data exchange between a vehicle (1) traveling at various autonomous driving levels and a remote station (2), comprising: the data is transmitted between the vehicle (1) and the remote station (2) via at least one network connection type of a network connection (3) in a terrestrial network (4), a network connection (3) in a non-terrestrial network (5), and a parallel network connection (3) between the terrestrial network (4) and the non-terrestrial network (5); The selection of the network connection type is based on a currently set and / or requested level of autonomous driving; In the selection of the network connection type, a network connection type having higher quality and / or higher speed is selected as the autonomous driving level increases. A control method comprising:

2. the selection of the network connection type is further based on software and / or hardware applications activated and / or required in the vehicle (1); Each of the software applications and / or the hardware applications has one of a number of quality of service requirements.

2. The control method according to claim 1 .

3. The quality of service requirements are differentiated by latency, jitter, data error rate, packet loss rate, and / or data throughput.

3. The control method according to claim 2 .

4. The selection of the network connection type may further be based on currently achieved and / or predetermined signal propagation times. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A plurality of network connections (3) having different signal propagation times and / or different data throughput rates can be selected in the terrestrial network (4) and / or in the non-terrestrial network (5), the selection of one of the plurality of network connections (3) being based on the configured and / or requested level of autonomous driving and / or based on software and / or hardware applications activated and / or requested in the vehicle (1). The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. Data transmission in the non-terrestrial network (5) is carried out via satellites (6). The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. Individual satellites (6) and / or groups of satellites in different Earth orbits can be selected for data transmission, the selection of said satellites (6) and / or groups of satellites being based on the configured and / or requested level of autonomous driving and / or based on software and / or hardware applications activated and / or requested in the vehicle (1).

7. The control method according to claim 5 or 6.

8. At a relatively high level of automated driving, a relatively nearby satellite (6) and / or a relatively nearby group of satellites is selected.

8. The control method according to claim 7,

9. Data transmission in the terrestrial network (4) takes place via one or more mobile radio networks (7) using different mobile radio standards. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. At higher levels of automated driving, mobile radio standards with higher data transmission rates are selected.

10. The control method according to claim 5 or 9.

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