Vehicle assistance device

• US 9,618,357 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2015
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Roelle, Christopher, Strassberger, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Kan, Yuri
• Application Number:
  US14/699,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20150233727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 701 19, 701427, 701533, 701 1, 701 2
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09626 where the origin of the information is within the own vehicle, e.g. a local storage device, digital map

Abstract

A vehicle assistance device for a driver includes a control unit for generating data that indicates information with respect to the temporal occurrence of an event along a route of a vehicle. A display unit displays a map of the route of the vehicle between a starting point and a destination point of the route. The control unit controls the display unit with data, wherein the control unit generates the data in such a way that the information characterizing the temporal occurrence of an event is displayed on the display unit along the map of the route as a function of the point-in-time of occurrence of the event.

Claims

1. A vehicle assistance device, comprising:

a control unit configured to generate data that indicates information with respect to a first temporal occurrence of a first event and a second temporal occurrence of a second event along a route of a vehicle;

a display unit for displaying a map of the route of the vehicle between a starting point and a destination point of the route,

wherein the control unit controls the display unit with the data, and

wherein the control unit generates the data such that the information characterizing the first and second temporal occurrences of the first and second events are displayed on the display unit along the map of the route as a function of a first point-in-time of the first temporal occurrence of the first event and a second point-in-time of the second temporal occurrence of the second event, wherein the second temporal occurrence of the second event is affected by the first temporal occurrence of the first event.

2. The vehicle assistance device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an identification unit for identifying at least one occupant of the vehicle;

wherein the control unit is configured to generate the data as a function of the occupants detected in the vehicle.

3. The vehicle assistance device according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit is configured to generate the data as a function of:

(i) a condition of the vehicle, (ii) a traffic condition on the route, and/or (iii) a weather condition along the route.

4. The vehicle assistance device according to claim 1,

wherein the information relates to one or more of:

(i) a reported traffic condition along the route, (ii) a reported weather condition along the route, (iii) a detected condition of the vehicle along the route, (iv) objects located along the route, (v) traffic rules in effect along the route, or (vi) availability of communication service providers, radio and television program providers along the route.

5. The vehicle assistance device according to claim 3,

wherein the information relates to one or more of:

(i) a reported traffic condition along the route, (ii) a reported weather condition along the route, (iii) a detected condition of the vehicle along the route, (iv) objects located along the route, (v) traffic rules in effect along the route, or (vi) availability of communication service providers, radio and television program providers along the route.

6. The vehicle assistance device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving a first data record,

wherein the control unit is configured to generate at least one first portion of the data from the first data record and to display the respective information on the display unit along the map of the route.

7. The vehicle assistance device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving a first data record,

wherein the control unit is configured to generate at least one first portion of the data from the first data record and to display the respective information on the display unit along the map of the route.

8. The vehicle assistance device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one sensor unit for detecting at least one condition of the vehicle,

wherein the sensor unit generates a second data record as a function of the detected condition of the vehicle,

wherein the memory unit comprises a second memory for storing the second data record,

wherein the control unit is configured to select at least one portion of the second data record as a function of the detected condition of the vehicle and to generate the data for display on the display unit from the selected portion of the second data record.

9. The vehicle assistance device according to claim 8, further comprising:

an interface unit for connecting a mobile multifunction unit to the vehicle assistance device,

wherein the memory unit has a third memory for storing a third data record, and the third data record is supplied by the mobile multifunction unit,

wherein the control unit is configured to read out the third data record from the mobile multifunction unit and to store it in the third memory of the memory unit,

wherein the control unit is configured to select at least one portion of the third data record as a function of the route and to generate, from the selected portion of the third data record, the data for display on the display unit.

10. The vehicle assistance device according to claim 9,

wherein the mobile multifunction unit is a smartphone, and the control unit is configured to read out the third data record from a memory of the smartphone for storing entries of an appointment calendar of the smartphone.

11. The vehicle assistance device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a position locating device for determining a position of the vehicle,

wherein the memory unit has a fourth memory and a fifth memory, each for storing a plurality of fourth data records, wherein the fourth data records each comprise a position of the vehicle, a first parameter, which characterizes the occupant of the vehicle and a second parameter that characterizes an action of the occupant of the vehicle in that position; and

an evaluation unit for evaluating the fourth memory, such that the evaluation unit stores the fourth data record in the fifth memory as a function of the incidence of the storing of a fourth data record in the fourth memory.

12. The vehicle assistance device according to claim 11,

wherein the control unit is configured to read out the fourth data record from the fifth memory when the control unit detects that the driver identified by the first parameter matches the driver determined by the identification unit, and the position contained in the fourth data record lies along the route of the vehicle,

wherein the control unit is configured to generate the data for display on the display unit as a function of the fourth data record selected.

13. The vehicle assistance device according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit is programmable, such that the control unit generates the data as a function of the programming.

14. The vehicle assistance device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input unit for input of a purpose of the trip,

wherein the control unit is configured to generate the data as a function of the purpose entered and to display the respective information on the display unit.

15. The vehicle assistance device according to claim 12, further comprising:

an input unit for input of a purpose of the trip,

wherein the control unit is configured to generate the data as a function of the purpose entered and to display the respective information on the display unit.

16. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle assistance device, the vehicle assistance device comprising;

a control unit configured to generate data that indicates information with respect to a first temporal occurrence of a first event and a second temporal occurrence of a second event along a route of a vehicle;

a display unit for displaying a map of the route of the vehicle between a starting point and a destination point of the route,

wherein the control unit controls the display unit with the data, and

wherein the control unit generates the data such that the information characterizing the first and second temporal occurrences of the first and second events are displayed on the display unit along the map of the route as a function of a first point-in-time of the first temporal occurrence of the first event and a second point-in-time of the second temporal occurrence of the second event, wherein the second temporal occurrence of the second event is affected by the first temporal occurrence of the first event.