Driver Assistance Route Segmentation for Timely Activation Prompts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing driver assistance systems in vehicles are often not used effectively by drivers unfamiliar with their functions, especially in new or shared vehicles, due to lack of proper instruction or guidance.

Innovation Solution

A method that divides a vehicle's route into segments based on priority, using navigation and electronic computing to optimize when and where to alert drivers to activate assistance functions, and a method that uses swarm data to recommend activation based on usage patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If driver assistance functions are provided in vehicles, then driving safety and comfort are improved, but drivers unfamiliar with the functions use them incorrectly or not at all

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveusage effectivenessVSAvoiduser familiarity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of the driver's familiarity level with assistance functions before the journey begins. Based on this pre-assessment, it prepares and delivers targeted information about specific functions that the driver is likely to encounter and may not be familiar with, allowing the driver to understand and correctly use these functions before they are needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors whether the driver is familiar with each assistance function and provides adaptive information delivery. When the system detects that a driver is unfamiliar with a particular function, it automatically provides relevant information about that function. This feedback mechanism ensures that drivers receive appropriate guidance based on their actual knowledge level, improving both reliability of usage and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If drivers receive comprehensive instructions about all driver assistance functions, then drivers become familiar with the functions, but drivers spend excessive time reading manuals or receiving instructions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver familiarityVSAvoidinstruction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of providing uniform comprehensive instructions to all drivers, the system delivers localized, targeted information about specific assistance functions that are relevant to each driver's familiarity level and current driving situation. The system identifies which functions the driver is unfamiliar with and provides information only about those specific functions, making the information delivery both timely and context-appropriate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial action by providing only the necessary portion of information about driver assistance functions rather than comprehensive instructions for all functions. It identifies and delivers information about specific functions that the driver is likely to encounter and may not be familiar with, avoiding unnecessary information delivery and reducing overall instruction time while maintaining adequate familiarity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If drivers are alerted to driver assistance functions during the journey, then drivers can activate functions at appropriate times, but drivers may be distracted or overwhelmed by multiple alerts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunction activation timingVSAvoiddriver distraction
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of suitable segments along the driver's route where assistance functions would be beneficial before the journey begins. By pre-planning where alerts should be delivered based on the route and driver familiarity level, the system can alert drivers at optimal times without causing distraction or overload during critical driving moments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system divides the driver's journey into segments and selectively delivers alerts about driver assistance functions in specific segments where they are most relevant and least distracting. By segmenting the route and applying different alert strategies to different segments based on road type, traffic conditions, and driver familiarity, the system maximizes function activation timing while minimizing driver distraction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4532287B1Method for supporting a driver when using a driver assistance function in a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP4532287B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for supporting a driver when using a driver assistance function in a motor vehicle. An ascertained travel route of the motor vehicle is divided into multiple segments (A-E) (V10), each segment (A-E) is allocated a priority (1-4) which characterizes how advantageous the use of the driver assistance function is in the respective segment (A-E) (V12), a sequence of segments (A-E) is generated on the basis of the priorities (1-4) thereof and on the basis of the occurrence of the respective segment along the travel route (V14), and the driver assistance function is suggested to the driver by means of a suggestion signal when the motor vehicle is traveling in the first segment of the sequence (V16).