Tele-Operated Driving Communication via Vehicle-Relayed Traffic Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing concepts for tele-operated driving sessions do not effectively share full information available at the vehicle with the remote control center, limiting the remote control center's ability to control the vehicle efficiently.

Innovation Solution

The vehicle receives messages containing environmental information from traffic entities and forwards this information to the remote control center, enabling the remote control center to receive and utilize this information for controlling the vehicle, even if the remote control center is outside the transmission range of the traffic entity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the remote control center receives environmental information directly from traffic entities, then the information transmission is straightforward, but the remote control center is limited by transmission range and cannot receive messages outside its coverage area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental information availabilityVSAvoidcommunication system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the vehicle as an intermediary component that receives environmental information messages from traffic entities within transmission range and forwards this information to the remote control center. This mediator approach allows the remote control center to access environmental information indirectly when direct communication is not possible, resolving the transmission range limitation while maintaining system functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If the vehicle forwards all received messages to the remote control center, then complete environmental information is provided, but communication bandwidth and data processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental information completenessVSAvoidcommunication energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and forwards only the essential environmental information content from received messages to the remote control center, rather than transmitting complete raw message data. This selective extraction approach provides sufficient environmental context for remote control operations while reducing communication bandwidth requirements and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the remote control center operates outside the transmission range of traffic entities, then operational flexibility is improved, but the ability to receive environmental information directly is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote control center positioning flexibilityVSAvoiddirect environmental information reception
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle serves as a mobile intermediary that extends the effective communication range of the remote control center. By receiving messages from traffic entities within its transmission range and relaying this information to the remote control center, the vehicle enables the control center to operate flexibly outside direct transmission range while maintaining access to environmental information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3979027B1Methods, computer programs, communication circuits for communicating in a tele-operated driving session, vehicle and remote control center for controlling a vehicle from remote
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3979027B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3979027B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3979027B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Embodiments provide methods, computer programs, communication circuits for communicating in a tele-operated driving session, a vehicle and a remote control center for controlling a vehicle from remote. In particular, embodiments provide a method (100) for a vehicle and communicating in a tele-operated driving session between the vehicle and a remote control center. The method (100) comprises establishing (110) the tele-operated driving session. The method (100) further comprises receiving (120), by the vehicle, a message including information on the environment of the vehicle from a traffic entity outside the vehicle. Further, the method (100) comprises transmitting (130), by the vehicle, the information to the remote control center for controlling the vehicle from remote based on the information.