Reserved Vehicle Identification via Terminal Light Copying

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for identifying a reserved autonomous vehicle require users to compare figures displayed on a smartphone with those on the vehicle's door, making intuitive recognition difficult.

Innovation Solution

A reserved vehicle control system that acquires positional information of both the terminal device and the reserved vehicle, determines if they are within a predetermined distance, and allows the user to control a light-emitting device on the vehicle via the terminal device, enabling intuitive identification by turning on or off the lights based on user input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If figure comparison method is used for vehicle identification, then vehicle identification function is achieved, but user recognition intuitiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle identification accuracyVSAvoiduser recognition intuitiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a visual copy of the vehicle's light emission pattern by displaying it on the user's terminal device screen. Instead of requiring the user to compare abstract figures, the system captures and reproduces the actual light pattern from the vehicle, allowing intuitive recognition through direct visual matching between the terminal display and the real vehicle lights.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If display device is installed on vehicle for identification, then user recognition is improved, but device cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser recognition intuitivenessVSAvoidvehicle device configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the terminal device (smartphone or tablet) as an intermediary between the vehicle's light emission system and the user's visual perception. Instead of installing a display on the vehicle, the system uses the user's existing terminal device to capture and display the light pattern, eliminating the need for additional vehicle-mounted display hardware while maintaining intuitive recognition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent leverages the user's existing terminal device, which they already possess and use, to perform the identification function. The terminal device's camera and display capabilities are utilized without requiring the vehicle to provide additional identification hardware, making the system self-sufficient regarding display resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If figure comparison method is used, then identification function is achieved, but identification time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoididentification time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates an immediate visual copy of the vehicle's light pattern on the terminal device screen, allowing the user to perform instant visual matching rather than comparing abstract figures. This direct visual reproduction significantly reduces the cognitive processing time required for identification while maintaining accurate vehicle recognition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3855407B1Reserved vehicle control method, reserved vehicle control device, and reserved vehicle control system
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3855407B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3855407B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3855407B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A reserved vehicle control method includes a step of acquiring positional information of a terminal device, a step of acquiring positional information of a reserved vehicle, a step of determining whether a distance between the terminal device and the reserved vehicle is a predetermined value or less, in accordance with the positional information of the terminal device and the positional information of the reserved vehicle, and a step of outputting, to the terminal device, allowing information indicating that an operation on a light-emitting device mounted on the reserved vehicle is allowed, when determining that the distance between the terminal device and the reserved vehicle is the predetermined value or less.