Method and device for operating a vehicle

• US 10,279,840 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Nordbruch, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Santiago
• Application Number:
  US15/517,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20170305466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 340436
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/146 where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/148 Management of a network of parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/149 coupled to means for restricting the access to the parking space, e.g. authorization, access barriers, indicative lights

Abstract

A method for operating a vehicle includes the vehicle receiving a start signal for starting the vehicle via a communication network, and responding to the start signal only when one or multiple predetermined conditions are met. Additionally, a device for operating a vehicle, a parking facility management server, and a computer program can be provided for restricting a response to a start signal to only when the one or multiple predetermined conditions are met.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, from a parking facility management server, by the vehicle and via a communication network, a start signal for starting the vehicle, wherein the start signal is initiated from outside the vehicle; and

responding, by the vehicle, to the receiving of the start signal by autonomously starting and autonomously steering the vehicle, wherein the responding is performed conditional upon satisfaction of at least one predetermined condition,

wherein the at least one predetermined condition includes that an instantaneous position of the vehicle is within a predetermined spatial area and that an instantaneous time is within a predetermined time window.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined spatial area is assigned to a parking process.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined spatial area includes a parking facility.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time window corresponds to a parking duration of the vehicle in a parking facility.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a vehicle start certificate is transmitted to a parking facility management server of a parking facility, the vehicle start certificate defining at least one of a predetermined time window and a predetermined spatial area within which the parking facility management server is able to start the vehicle using the start signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, in response to the autonomous starting of the vehicle, an information signal, indicating that the vehicle has started in response to the start signal, is transmitted via the communication network to a user of the communication network.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

the vehicle switching off autonomously when the vehicle does not receive a confirmation signal, from the user via the communication network, that the vehicle is to remain switched on.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

the vehicle switching off in response to a receipt, transmitted via the communication network, of a termination signal of the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein, prior to the autonomous starting of the vehicle, an information signal is transmitted, via the communication network and to a user of the communication network, the signal indicating that the vehicle will be started in response to the start signal.

10. A device for operating a vehicle, the device comprising:

a communication interface to a communication network; and

a starting device, wherein, conditional upon satisfaction of at least one predetermined condition, the starting device is configured to start and steer the vehicle autonomously in response to a start signal that is received from the communication network of a parking facility management server via the communication interface, wherein the start signal is initiated from outside the vehicle, wherein the at least one predetermined condition includes that an instantaneous position of the vehicle is within a predetermined spatial area and that an instantaneous time is within a predetermined time window.

11. A parking facility management server for a parking facility, the server comprising:

a communication interface to a communication network; and

processing circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to generate, and transmit to a vehicle over the communication network and via the communication interface, a start signal for starting and steering a vehicle, wherein the start signal is initiated from outside the vehicle.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which are stored instructions that are executable by a processor of a vehicle and that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method for operating the vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, from a parking facility management server, via a communication network, a start signal for starting the vehicle, wherein the start signal is initiated from outside the vehicle; and

responding, by the vehicle, to the receiving of the start signal by autonomously starting and autonomously steering the vehicle, wherein the responding is performed conditional upon satisfaction of at least one predetermined condition,

wherein the at least one predetermined condition includes that an instantaneous position of the vehicle is within a predetermined spatial area and that an instantaneous time is within a predetermined time window.