Method, device, system, and computer program product for displaying driving route section factors influencing a vehicle

• US 10,591,311 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2017
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Augst, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Elchanti, Hussein
• Application Number:
  US15/461,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20170191850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/30 Road curve radius
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/35 Road bumpiness, e.g. potholes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/30 Data update rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/35 Data fusion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3635 Guidance using 3D or perspective road maps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

In a method for displaying driving route section factors influencing a vehicle, a first item of information concerning a first driving route section is determined. A second item of information concerning a second driving route section is determined. Depending on the first item of information, at least one first set of parameters that is representative of at least one factor of the first driving route section influencing the vehicle is determined. Depending on the second item of information, at least one second set of parameters that is representative of at least one factor of the second driving route section influencing the vehicle is determined. Depending on the at least one first set of parameters and the at least one second set of parameters, a display that represents an influencing factor of the first driving route section and an influencing factor of the second driving route section, in particular with reference to a predefined reference variable, is produced.

Claims

1. A method for displaying driving route section factors influencing a vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

determining a first item of information concerning a first driving route section and a second item of information concerning a second driving route section;

depending on the first item of information, determining at least one first set of parameters, which is representative of at least one factor of the first driving route section influencing the vehicle;

depending on the second item of information, determining at least one second set of parameters, which is representative of at least one factor of the second driving route section influencing the vehicle;

displaying a graphical representation of an influencing factor of the first driving route section and an influencing factor of the second driving route section depending on the at least one first set of parameters and the at least one second set of parameters, wherein the graphical representation comprises a comparative presentation of the influencing factor of the first driving route and the influencing factor of the second driving route; and

determining a first parameter of the first set of parameters and/or of the second set of parameters depending on data that are representative of how the vehicle mechanically responds to predefined physical roadway characteristics,

wherein a second parameter of the first set of parameters and/or of the second set of parameters represents a vertical-dynamic influence on the vehicle, the vertical-dynamic influence reflecting how the vehicle mechanically responds in a vertical direction to predefined physical roadway characteristics.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the graphical representation represents an influencing factor of the first driving route section and an influencing factor of the second driving route section with reference to a predefined reference variable, which is determined depending on an item of information that is representative of at least one influencing factor of a driving route section that has already been driven in the past or is currently being driven by a driver of the vehicle and/or by the vehicle.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the first set of parameters and/or the second set of parameters comprise at least two parameters that are determined depending on at least two of the following influencing factors of the driving route section:

at least one statistical value,

at least one qualitative value concerning a kind of influencing factor, or

at least one course value of the influencing factor with reference to driving time or position.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the graphical representation is produced by an assignment or conversion on the basis of a predefined formula of the parameters of the first and/or second set of parameters to or into graphical elements.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein for the display:

(i) at least one statistical value is represented by way of variation of a symbolic representation of the vehicle,

(ii) at least one qualitative value concerning a kind of influencing factor is represented by way of variation of a further symbolic representation of the vehicle, and/or

(iii) at least one course value of a parameter is represented by way of a curve on the basis of driving time or on the basis of driving route.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first driving route section and the second driving route section comprise at least partially parts of a predefined vehicle route.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

an item of information concerning at least one measure that changes the respective factor influencing the vehicle is determined depending on at least one parameter of the first set of parameters and/or the second set of parameters,

the method further comprising at least one of the following steps:

visually presenting an item of information concerning the measure,

visually presenting an operating action by a driver that leads to the measure, and

activating of the measure by the vehicle and visually presenting an item of information for the driver concerning this activation.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a vehicle profile that is representative of the vehicle is provided, and

at least one parameter of the first set of parameters and/or of the second set of parameters is determined depending on the vehicle profile.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first set of parameters for the first driving route section and at least one of the second set of parameters for the second driving route section are representative of a same physical roadway characteristic.

10. A device for displaying driving route section factors influencing a vehicle, the device comprising:

a computing unit;

a data memory; and

a program stored in the data memory, wherein the computing unit is configured to execute the program to;

determine a first item of information concerning a first driving route section and a second item of information concerning a second driving route section,

depending on the first item of information, determine at least one first set of parameters that is representative of at least one factor of the first driving route section influencing the vehicle,

depending on the second item of information, determine at least one second set of parameters that is representative of at least one factor of the second driving route section influencing the vehicle,

display a graphical representation of an influencing factor of the first driving route section and an influencing factor of the second driving route section depending on the at least one first set of parameters and the at least one second set of parameters, wherein the graphical representation comprises a comparative presentation of the influencing factor of the first driving route and the influencing factor of the second driving route, and

determine a first parameter of the first set of parameters and/or of the second set of parameters depending on data that are representative of how the vehicle mechanically responds to predefined physical roadway characteristic,

wherein a second parameter of the first set of parameters and/or of the second set of parameters represents a vertical-dynamic influence on the vehicle, the vertical-dynamic influence reflecting how the vehicle mechanically responds in a vertical direction to predefined physical roadway characteristics.

11. A system, comprising:

a portable device;

a vehicle; and

a data processing device, wherein the portable device is designed to exchange data with the vehicle and the data processing device, and the portable device together with the vehicle and/or the data processing device, are configured to;

determine a first item of information concerning a first driving route section and a second item of information concerning a second driving route section;

depending on the first item of information, determine at least one first set of parameters, which is representative of at least one factor of the first driving route section influencing the vehicle;

depending on the second item of information, determine at least one second set of parameters, which is representative of at least one factor of the second driving route section influencing the vehicle;

display a graphical representation of an influencing factor of the first driving route section and an influencing factor of the second driving route section depending on the at least one first set of parameters and the at least one second set of parameters, wherein the graphical representation comprises a comparative presentation of the influencing factor of the first driving route and the influencing factor of the second driving route; and

determine a first parameter of the first set of parameters and/or of the second set of parameters depending on data that are representative of how the vehicle mechanically responds to predefined physical roadway characteristics,

wherein a second parameter of the first set of parameters and/or of the second set of parameters represent a vertical-dynamic influence on the vehicle, the vertical-dynamic influence reflecting how the vehicle mechanically responds in a vertical direction to predefined physical roadway characteristics.

12. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable program code, wherein the program code when executed by a data processing device:

determines a first item of information concerning a first driving route section and a second item of information concerning a second driving route section;

depending on the first item of information, determines at least one first set of parameters, which is representative of at least one factor of the first driving route section influencing the vehicle;

depending on the second item of information, determines at least one second set of parameters, which is representative of at least one factor of the second driving route section influencing the vehicle;

displaying a graphical representation of an influencing factor of the first driving route section and an influencing factor of the second driving route section depending on the at least one first set of parameters and the at least one second set of parameters, wherein the graphical representation comprises a comparative presentation of the influencing factor of the first driving route and the influencing factor of the second driving route; and

determining a first parameter of the first set of parameters and/or of the second set of parameters depending on data that are representative of how the vehicle mechanically responds to predefined physical roadway characteristics,

wherein a second parameter of the first set of parameters and/or of the second set of parameters represents a vertical-dynamic influence on the vehicle, the vertical-dynamic influence reflecting how the vehicle mechanically responds in a vertical direction to predefined physical roadway characteristics.