System for obtaining rule sets for motor vehicle automation

• US 9,440,606 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2014
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Lamprecht, Andreas, Hainzlmaier, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Tyler J
• Application Number:
  US14/769,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20150375699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/36, 701/45, 701/49
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A method for obtaining rule sets for a motor vehicle to be automated includes receiving with a stationary central server arrangement from each respective one of a plurality of other motor vehicles at least one item of activation information regarding a vehicle function activated in the respective motor vehicle in an actual situation encountered by the respective motor vehicle, and a respective data set including vehicle data determined by the respective motor vehicle in the respective actual situation; generating with the centralized server rule sets on the basis of the respective data set and the at least one item of activation information, wherein each rule set defines an activation condition and a vehicle function to be activated when the activation condition is satisfied; and transmitting the rule sets to the motor vehicle to be automated. The motor vehicle to be automated is configured to detect whether a situation-specific data set generated by the motor vehicle to be automated satisfies the activation condition, and to autonomously activate the vehicle function when the data set satisfies the activation condition.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining rule sets for a motor vehicle to be automated, comprising:

receiving with a stationary central server arrangement from each respective one of a plurality of motor vehicles at least one item of activation information regarding a vehicle function activated in the respective motor vehicle in an actual respective situation encountered by the respective motor vehicle;

receiving with the stationary central server arrangement a respective data set comprising vehicle data determined by the respective motor vehicle in the respective actual situation;

generating with the stationary centralized server rule sets on the basis of the respective data set and the at least one item of activation information received from each respective motor vehicle, each said rule set defining an activation condition and a vehicle function to be activated when the activation condition is satisfied, wherein at least one of the rule sets comprises an if-then-rule for a value of the vehicle data; and

transmitting the rule sets to the motor vehicle to be automated, said motor vehicle to be automated being configured to detect another data set for the actual situation encountered by the motor vehicle to be automated, said other data set comprising vehicle data specific for the actual situation encountered by the motor vehicle to be automated, said motor vehicle to be automated being further configured to analyze whether the other data set satisfies one of the activation conditions and, to autonomously activate the vehicle function or to suggest activation of the vehicle function when the other data set satisfies the one of the activation conditions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation information indicates a type of operating action performed by an operator of the respective motor vehicle in the respective actual situation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle data determined by the respective motor vehicle comprise information regarding at least one situation feature selected from the group consisting of an actual position, an absolute position, a driving speed, a temperature, a standing period of the respective motor vehicle, a time information, and a value of an operating parameter of the respective motor vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one rule set comprises a tolerance range for verifying a whether the activation condition is satisfied.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming at least one of the data sets by recognizing at least one operating pattern in the respective data sets by using a data-mining process.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the rule sets is additionally established on the basis of traffic data collected independent of the respective motor vehicle.

7. A server arrangement for operation in the Internet, said server arrangement being configured to implement the method of claim 1.

8. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a memory for storing at least one rule set, said at least one rule set defining an activation condition and a vehicle function to be activated when the activation condition is satisfied,

an operating device configured to reverse the activation of the vehicle function in response to operation of the operating device,

said motor vehicle being configured to determine a data set relating to an actual situation encountered by the motor vehicle, said data set comprising vehicle data specific for the actual situation, said motor vehicle being further configured to analyze whether the data set satisfies the activation condition, and to autonomously activate the vehicle function or to suggest an activation to the vehicle function when the data set satisfies the activation condition, wherein the motor vehicle is configured to receive the at least one rule set from a stationary server arrangement, said stationary server arrangement being configured

to receive from each respective one of a plurality of motor vehicles at least one item of activation information regarding a vehicle function activated in the respective motor vehicle in an actual respective situation encountered by the respective motor vehicle,

to receive respective data sets, each comprising vehicle data determined by the respective motor vehicle in the respective actual situation, and

to generate the rule sets on the basis of the data set and the at least one item of activation information received from each respective motor vehicle.

9. The motor vehicle of claim 8, wherein the motor vehicle is further configured to indicate the automatic activation of the vehicle function to an operator.

11. The motor vehicle of claim 8, wherein the vehicle function comprises at least one member selected from a member of the group consisting of a change of view in a navigation system, a crossroad assistant in a navigation system, a seat heating, a rear window heating, a vehicle lighting, and an air conditioner.

12. The motor vehicle of claim 11, wherein the vehicle function comprises at least one member selected from a member of the group consisting of a change of view in a navigation system, a crossroad assistant in a navigation system, a seat heating, a rear window heating, a vehicle lighting, and an air conditioner.

10. A motor vehicle configured to gather at least one item of activation information regarding a vehicle function which is activated in a respective actual situation encountered by the motor vehicle and to generate a data set from vehicle data that are specific for the respective actual situation, and to transmit the activation information and the data set to a stationary server arrangement, said stationary server arrangement being configured

to generate rule sets on the basis of the data set and the at least one item of activation information received from the motor vehicle, each said rule set defining an activation condition and a vehicle function to be activated when the activation condition is satisfied, wherein at least one of the rule sets comprises an if-then-rule for a value of the vehicle data, and

to transmit the rule sets to another motor vehicle to be automated, said other motor vehicle being configured to detect another data set for the actual situation encountered by the other motor, said other data set comprising vehicle data specific for the actual situation encountered by the other motor vehicle, said other motor vehicle being further configured to analyze whether the other data set satisfies the activation condition, and to autonomously activate the vehicle function or to suggest activation of the vehicle function when the other data set satisfies the activation condition.

13. A system, comprising:

at least one motor vehicle configured to gather at least one item of activation information regarding a vehicle function of the at least one motor vehicle activated in a respective actual situation encountered by the at least one motor vehicle and to generate a data set from vehicle data that are specific for the respective actual situation;

a server arrangement configured to generate rule sets on the basis of the data set and the at least one item of activation information received from the at least one motor vehicle, each said rule set defining an activation condition and a vehicle function to be activated when the activation condition is satisfied, wherein at least one of the rule sets comprises an if-then-rule for a value of the vehicle data; and

another motor vehicle receiving at least one of the rule sets and comprising a memory for storing the at least one rule set, said other motor vehicle being configured to determine another data set relating to an actual situation encountered by the other motor vehicle, said other data set comprising vehicle data specific for the actual situation encountered by the other motor vehicle, said other motor vehicle being further configured to analyze whether the other data set satisfies the activation condition, and to autonomously activate the vehicle function or to suggest an activation to the vehicle function when the other data set satisfies the activation condition.