Tele-Operated Driving Session Control Under Variable Network QoS

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tele-operated driving systems face challenges in ensuring reliable communication quality for vehicles operating at varying speeds and environments, particularly in situations where the vehicle's autonomous capabilities are compromised, necessitating external control from a remote operator.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that predict communication quality of service and requirements, adapting vehicle speed and video compression settings to match predicted quality of service, using sensors and artificial intelligence to optimize data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the vehicle operates at high speed in complex environments, then productivity and response time improve, but communication data rate requirements increase and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle response timeVSAvoidtele-operated driving session reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts video compression settings based on real-time communication conditions and vehicle speed. When communication quality deteriorates or speed increases, the system adjusts compression parameters to maintain reliable tele-operated driving sessions while preserving necessary productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes physical parameters of the communication system by adjusting video compression settings (bitrate, resolution, frame rate) according to vehicle speed and communication quality predictions. This allows the system to maintain reliability across varying operational conditions by optimizing data transmission parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If video compression is reduced to maintain high quality perception data transmission, then measurement precision improves, but data rate requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperception data qualityVSAvoiddata transmission volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system optimizes video compression parameters (quality factor, bitrate, resolution) to achieve the minimum necessary perception data quality required for safe tele-operated driving. By dynamically adjusting these parameters based on communication conditions, the system maintains adequate measurement precision while minimizing data transmission volume to match available bandwidth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If the system adapts video compression settings to match predicted quality of service, then loss of information decreases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperception data fidelityVSAvoidcommunication optimization system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary prediction of quality of service conditions and proactively adjusts video compression settings before actual transmission. This advance preparation allows the system to minimize information loss by optimizing compression parameters in advance, rather than reacting to degraded transmission quality after the fact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from quality of service predictions and actual transmission performance to continuously optimize video compression settings. By monitoring communication conditions and adjusting compression parameters accordingly, the system maintains high perception data fidelity while managing the complexity through closed-loop control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4002894B1Method, computer program and apparatus for invoking a tele-operated driving session
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP4002894B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4002894B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4002894B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention is related to a method, a computer program, and an apparatus for invoking a tele-operated driving session for a vehicle equipped with an automated driving function. The invention is further related to a vehicle equipped with an automated driving function, which makes use of such a method or apparatus. In a first step, a quality of service for a communication between the vehicle and a control center is predicted (10) for a tele-operated driving session. Furthermore, communication requirements for the tele-operated driving session are predicted (11). At least one parameter of the vehicle is then adapted (12) such that the communication requirements match the predicted quality of service. Finally, a tele-operated driving session is initiated (13).