Method and system for handling vehicle feature information

• US 10,593,203 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2018
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Hellberg, Oliver, Oskarsson, Isabell
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US16/185,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20190147740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 340905, 340457, 340438, 340439, 701 314, 701 2, 701 326, 455423
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/161 Explanation of functions, e.g. instructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0137 for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/093 Data selection, e.g. prioritizing information, managing message queues, selecting the information to be output
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0967 Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968

Abstract

The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a vehicle system for handling vehicle feature information. The vehicle system monitors a current condition related to a vehicle, and compares the current condition with a predetermined condition. The vehicle system provides vehicle feature information to a user of the vehicle when the comparing indicates that the conditions are at least partly the same.

Claims

1. A method performed by a vehicle system for handling vehicle feature information, the method comprising:

monitoring a current condition related to a vehicle using one or more of a sensor, a camera, and a navigation device;

comparing the current condition with a predetermined condition; and

providing vehicle feature information to a user of the vehicle when the comparing indicates that the current condition and the predetermined condition are at least partly the same and when the current condition is determined to correspond to a safe time to provide the vehicle feature information to the user of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle feature information is educational information that is related to a vehicle feature that is applicable in the current condition.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a type of vehicle feature about which vehicle feature information should be provided to the user; and

wherein the provided vehicle feature information is for the determined type of vehicle feature.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle feature information is provided when the current condition and the predetermined condition are at least partly the same and when the vehicle feature information has not been previously provided to the user.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle feature information is provided when the current condition and the predetermined condition are at least partly the same and when the vehicle feature associated with the vehicle information is currently operated or has been previously operated in an unintended or suboptimal manner or if the vehicle feature has not previously been activated.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the current condition and the predetermined condition are associated with at least one of the following:

a vehicle position, speed limitation, curve radius, road width, road type, speed, road condition, traffic situation and weather and light conditions.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein information indicating the predetermined condition is vehicle internal information, or externally obtained information, or both vehicle internal information and externally obtained information.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle feature information is provided to the user in at least one of the following ways:

by displaying the information on a display, by using an audio device and by using a haptic device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein there are different predetermined condition for different vehicle features.

9. A vehicle system for handling vehicle feature information, wherein the vehicle system is adapted to perform the method according to claim 1.

10. A vehicle comprising the vehicle system according to claim 9.

11. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the method according to claim 1.

12. A carrier comprising the computer program of claim 11, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal or computer readable storage medium.