Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a method performed by a storage area disposition system of a vehicle for handling storage space of a vehicle storage area. The storage area disposition system receives a location request signal associated with a desired location of at least a first movable partitioning wall of the storage area. The storage area disposition system further arranges the at least first movable partitioning wall in the desired location, wherein the at least first movable partitioning wall divides the storage area into at least a first and a second separate storage compartment.
Claims
1: A method performed by a storage area disposition system of a vehicle for handling storage space of a vehicle storage area, said method comprising: receiving a location request signal associated with a desired location of at least a first movable partitioning wall of said storage area; and said storage area disposition system arranging said at least first movable partitioning wall in said desired location, wherein said at least first movable partitioning wall divides said storage area into at least a first and a second separate storage compartment.
2: The method according to claim 1, wherein said area disposition system comprises one or more electrical motors, said arranging then comprising arranging said at least first movable partitioning wall by means of said one or more electrical motors.
3: The method according to claim 1, wherein said storage area further comprises one or more fixed partitioning walls arranged such that they in combination with said at least first movable partitioning wall and at least one respective closing arrangement provide that said at least first and/or second separate storage compartment respectively is a separate enclosed storage compartment supporting separate access.
4: The method according to claim 1, wherein said location request signal is based on a storage volume request associated with a first party, said arranging then further comprising arranging said at least first movable partitioning wall such that a selected separate storage compartment out of said at least first and second separate storage compartments meets said requested storage volume, said method then further comprising: assigning said selected separate storage compartment to said first party.
5: The method according to claim 4, wherein said storage volume request (51) further comprises a weight indication (52) associated with said requested storage volume (51), said arranging (1002) then further comprising arranging said at least first movable partitioning wall (221, 22) such that selection of said selected separate storage compartment (245) takes into account on said weight indication (52).
6: The method according to claim 4, wherein said storage volume request further comprises a target destination indication associated with said requested storage volume, said arranging then further comprising arranging said at least first movable partitioning wall such that selection of said selected separate storage compartment takes into account said target destination indication.
7: The method according to claim 4, wherein said first party is associated with a first access code and/or digital key, said method then further comprising: enabling said first access code and/or digital key access to said selected separate storage compartment.
8: A storage area disposition system of a vehicle for handling storage space of a vehicle storage area, said storage area disposition system comprising: a location request receiving unit for receiving a location request signal associated with a desired location of at least a first movable partitioning wall of said storage area; and a partitioning wall arranging unit of said storage area disposition system for arranging said at least first movable partitioning wall in said desired location, wherein said at least first movable partitioning wall divides said storage area into at least a first and a second separate storage compartment.
9: The storage area disposition system according to claim 8 further comprising one or more electrical motors, wherein said partitioning wall arranging unit then is adapted for arranging said at least first movable partitioning wall by means of said one or more electrical motors.
10: The storage area disposition system according to claim 8, wherein said storage area further comprises one or more fixed partitioning walls arranged such that they in combination with said at least first movable partitioning wall and at least one respective closing arrangement provide that said at least first and/or second separate storage compartment respectively is a separate enclosed storage compartment supporting separate access.
11: The storage area disposition system according to claim 8, wherein said location request signal is based on a storage volume request associated with a first party, said partitioning wall arranging unit then further being adapted for arranging said at least first movable partitioning wall such that a selected separate storage compartment out of said at least first and second separate storage compartments meets said requested storage volume, said storage area disposition system then further comprising: a compartment assigning unit for assigning said selected separate storage compartment to said first party.
12: The storage area disposition system according to claim 11, wherein said storage volume request further comprises a weight indication associated with said requested storage volume, said partitioning wall arranging unit then further being adapted for arranging said at least first movable partitioning wall such that selection of said selected separate storage compartment takes into account said weight indication.
13: The storage area disposition system according to claim 11, wherein said storage volume request further comprises a target destination indication associated with said requested storage volume, said partitioning wall arranging unit then further being adapted for arranging said at least first movable partitioning wall such that selection of said selected separate storage compartment takes into account said target destination indication.
14: The storage area disposition system according to claim 11, wherein said first party is associated with a first access code and/or digital key, said storage area disposition system then further comprising: an access enabling unit for enabling said first access code and/or digital key access to said selected separate storage compartment.
15. (canceled)
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] The various aspects of the non-limiting embodiments, including particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0040] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of an exemplifying storage area disposition system according to embodiments of the disclosure;
[0041] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of the exemplifying storage area disposition system of FIG. 1;
[0042] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of an exemplifying storage area disposition system receiving a location request signal according to embodiments of the disclosure;
[0043] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of an exemplifying storage area disposition system receiving a location request signal in an alternative manner according to embodiments of the disclosure;
[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic view of an exemplifying storage area disposition system enabling access to a selected separate storage compartment according to embodiments of the disclosure;
[0045] FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplifying storage area disposition system according to embodiments of the disclosure; and
[0046] FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting an exemplifying method performed by a storage area disposition system according to embodiments of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0047] Non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the disclosure are shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout. Dashed lines of some boxes in the figures indicate that these units or actions are optional and not mandatory.
[0048] In the following, according to embodiments herein which relate to handling storage space of a vehicle storage area, there will be disclosed an approach which enables a storage area of a vehicle to be adapted storage wise.
[0049] Referring now to the figures and FIGS. 1-2 in particular, there is depicted a schematic view of an exemplifying storage area disposition system 1 according to embodiments of the disclosure. The storage area disposition system 1 is comprised in a vehicle 2, more specifically in association with a vehicle storage area 21 here located in the rear of the vehicle 2. The vehicle 2 is here represented by an autonomous vehicle supporting ride-sharing. The storage area 21 and/or the storage area disposition system 1 comprises one or more movable partitioning walls 22, here an exemplifying first movable partitioning wall 221 and an exemplifying second movable partitioning wall 222 both of essentially rectangular shape, extending in an essentially vertical plane, with an exemplifying respective depth essentially coinciding with a depth of the storage area 21. The storage area 21 and/or the storage area disposition system 1 moreover optionally comprises one or more fixed partitioning walls 23, here an exemplifying first fixed partitioning wall 231 and an exemplifying second fixed partitioning wall 232 both of essentially rectangular shape, located in an essentially horizontal plane, with an exemplifying respective depth essentially coinciding with the depth of the storage area 21 and an exemplifying respective width essentially coinciding with the width of the storage area 21. The one or more movable partitioning walls 22 divides the storage area 21 into one or more separate storage compartments 24; here the first movable partitioning wall 221arranged in an exemplifying desired location 3divides the storage area 21 into a first separate storage compartment 241 and a second separate storage compartment 242, whereas the second movable partitioning wall 222 divides the storage area 21 into a third separate storage compartment 243 and a fourth separate storage compartment 244, with the first fixed partitioning wall 231 dividing the storage area 21 into two levels and the second fixed partitioning wall 232 constituting a bottom floor of the lower level.
[0050] The one or more fixed partitioning walls 23 may optionally be arranged such that they in combination with the one or more movable partitioning walls 22 and at least one respective closing arrangement 25 provide that the one or more separate storage compartments 24 respectively is a separate enclosed storage compartment 24 supporting separate access. The respective closing arrangement 25 for respective separate storage compartment 24 is here represented by a respective lockable jalousie. Shown in FIG. 2 is further one or more optional electrical motors 4 adapted to arrange the one or more movable partitioning walls 22 in a respective desired location 3 and/or a respective default location, e.g. by means of a wire system. The movable partitioning walls 22 may here be moved in an essentially horizontal plane in an essentially transverse direction of the vehicle 2 and/or storage area 21.
[0051] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of an exemplifying storage area disposition system 1 receiving a location request signal 5 according to embodiments of the disclosure. The location request signal 5 may optionally be based on a storage volume request 51 associated with a first party 6; here the first party 6 is represented by a potential ride-sharing vehicle occupant. The storage volume request 51 may optionally comprise a weight indication 52 associated with the requested storage volume; additionally or alternatively, the storage volume request 51 may optionally comprise a target destination indication 53 associated with the requested storage volume 51. The location request signal 5 is here received from an electronic user device 7 e.g. represented by an exemplifying smartphone and further e.g. associated with the first party 6 here the ride-sharing vehicle occupant; for instance is the location request signal 5 received from an exemplifying booking and/or reservation system application running on said electronic user device 7.
[0052] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of an exemplifying storage area disposition system 1 receiving a location request signal 5 in an alternative manner according to embodiments of the disclosure. The location request signal 5 of FIG. 4 is similar to the location request signal 5 of FIG. 5, with the exception that the location request signal of FIG. 5 here is received from the electronic user device 7 via an optional vehicles management system 8 supporting communication with one or more vehicles.
[0053] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic view of an exemplifying storage area disposition system 1 enabling access to a selected separate storage compartment 245 according to embodiments of the disclosure. The selected separate storage compartment 245which has been assigned to the first party 6 here represented by the ride-sharing vehicle occupantis here equivalent to the first separate storage compartment 241 of FIG. 1. The first party 6 may optionally be associated with a first access code and/or digital key 9, by means of which the selected storage compartment 245 may be accessed. The first party 6here represented by the ride-sharing vehicle occupant having been assigned the selected separate storage compartment 245here carries an electronic user device 7, potentially but not necessarily the same electronic user device 7 illustrated in FIGS. 3-4 from which the location request signal 5 according to those examples was submitted.
[0054] As further shown in FIG. 6, which is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplifying storage area disposition system 1 according to embodiments of the disclosure, the storage area disposition system 1 comprises a location request receiving unit 101, a partitioning wall arranging unit 102, an optional compartment assigning unit 103 and an optional access enabling unit 104, all of which will be described in greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 7. Furthermore, the embodiments herein for handling storage space of a vehicle storage area 21, may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processor 105, here denoted CPU, together with computer program code for performing the functions and actions of the embodiments herein. Said program code may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing the embodiments herein when being loaded into the storage area disposition system 1. One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code may furthermore be provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the storage area disposition system 1. The storage area disposition system 1 may further comprise a memory 106 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 106 may be arranged to be used to store e.g. information, and further to store data, configurations, schedulings, and applications, to perform the methods herein when being executed in the storage area disposition system 1. For instance, the computer program code may be implemented in the firmware, stored in FLASH memory 106, of an embedded processor 105.
[0055] Furthermore, the location request receiving unit 101, the partitioning wall arranging unit 102, the optional compartment assigning unit 103, the optional access enabling unit 104, the optional processor 105 and/or the optional memory 106 may at least partly be comprised in the vehicle 2for instance in one or more nodes 107 thereof such as electronic control units (ECUs). Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that said units 101, 102, 103, 104 described above, and which will be described in more detail later on in this description, may refer to a combination of analog and digital circuits, and/or one or more processors configured with software and/or firmware, e.g. stored in a memory such as the memory 106, that when executed by the one or more processors such as the processor 105 perform as will be described in more detail in conjunction with FIG. 7. One or more of these processors, as well as the other digital hardware, may be included in a single ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuitry), or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a SoC (System-on-a-Chip).
[0056] FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting an exemplifying method performed by a storage area disposition system 1 according to embodiments of the disclosure. Said method is for handling storage space of a vehicle storage area 21. The exemplifying method, which may be continuously repeated, comprises the following actions discussed with support from FIGS. 1-6.
[0057] Action 1001
[0058] In Action 1001, the storage area disposition system 1 receivese.g. by means of the location request receiving unit 101a location request signal 5 associated with a desired location 3 of at least a first movable partitioning wall 221 of the storage area 21. Thus, as shown with support from at least FIGS. 1-4 and FIG. 6, electronic input 5 is received indicating a position 3 of where at least one movable storage area section wall 22, here the first movable partitioning wall 221, is wanted and/or requested. That is, the one or more movable partitioning walls 22 may have respective default locations from which they may be rearranged, for instance moved in an essentially horizontal direction and/or an essentially vertical direction within the storage area 21. In the embodiments of FIG. 1-4, the first movable partitioning wall 221 and the second movable partitioning wall 222 are movable essentially horizontally in an essentially transverse direction of the vehicle 2, which here correspondingly is essentially a transverse direction of the storage area 21.
[0059] Optionally, the location request signal 5 may be based on a storage volume request 51 associated with a first party 6. Thus, as shown with support from at least FIGS. 3-4, a desired storage volume 51 may be indicated byor forthe first party 6, here the potential ride-sharing vehicle occupant.
[0060] Action 1002
In Action 1002, the storage area disposition system 1 arrangese.g. by means of the partitioning wall arranging unit 102the one or more movable partitioning walls 22 in the respective desired location 3, wherein the one or more movable partitioning walls 22 divides the storage area 21 into two or more separate storage compartments 24. Thus, as shown with support from at least FIGS. 1-2 and FIG. 6, the one or more movable partitioning walls 22 are positioned in accordance with the respective requested disposition 3 such that two or more separate storage compartments 24 are provided respectively having sizes affected by one or more of the locations 3 of the one or more movable partitioning walls 22. Thereby, with the introduction of one or more movable partitioning walls 22 within the storage area 21, two or more separate storage compartments 24 of flexible size are provided and/or supported, the sizes thereof 24 depending on one or more of the locations 3 of the one or more movable partitioning walls 22. Accordingly, the size of respective separate storage compartment 24 may be adapted in a flexible manner, for instance to suit a respective volume of luggage and/or cargo planned for storage in respective separate storage compartment 24, e.g. by one or more potential ride-sharing vehicle occupants. In the embodiments of FIG. 1-4, the first movable partitioning wall 221 is moved to the desired location 3.
[0061] Optionally, the Action 1002 of arranging the one or more movable partitioning walls 22 may comprise arranging the one or more movable partitioning walls 22 by means of one or more electrical motors 4 comprised in the storage area disposition system 1. Thus, as shown with support from at least FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, the one or more movable partitioning walls 22 may be moved and/or rearranged in a convenient manner; here the first partitioning wall 221 is moved in an essentially horizontal plane in an essentially transverse direction. The number of electrical motors 4 and/or positioning thereof may be arbitrarily selected as deemed appropriate for the implementation at hand, e.g. may each respective movable partitioning wall 221, 22 be supported by a respective electrical motor 4, e.g. with support from a wire system.
[0062] Optionally, the storage area 21 may further comprise one or more fixed partitioning walls 23 arranged such that they 23 in combination with the one or more movable partitioning walls 22 and at least one respective closing arrangement 25 provide that the one or more separate storage compartment 24 respectively is a separate enclosed storage compartment 24 supporting separate access. Thus, as shown with support at least from FIG. 1, the storage area 21 may be divided into separate enclosed storage compartments 24 with individual access, in FIG. 1 in two different levels separated by the first fixed partitioning walls 231. Thus, each respective separate enclosed storage compartment 24 provided with support from the one or more fixed partitioning walls 22which respective separate enclosed storage compartment 24 supports separate access by means of at least one respective closing arrangement 25may accordingly be suitable for storing luggage and/or cargo to which separate access is preferable and/or requested. The closing arrangement 25 may for instance be represented by and/or comprise a roll-out, roll-up or roll-down curtain, cover or jalousie or the like; in FIG. 1, respective closing arrangement 25 is represented by a lockable jalousie.
[0063] Should the location request signal 5 be based on the storage volume request 51 associated with the first party 6, then the Action 1002 of arranging the one or more movable partitioning walls 22, comprises arranging the one or more movable partitioning walls 22 such that a selected separate storage compartment 245 out of the two or more separate storage compartments 24 meets the requested storage volume 51. Thus, as shown with support from at least FIG. 5, the first separate storage compartment 241 is selected as the selected separate storage compartment 245, and the first movable partitioning wall 221 is accordingly arranged such that the selected separate storage compartment 245, 241 meets the requested storage volume 51.
[0064] Furthermore, optionally, should the location request signal 5 be based on the storage volume request 51 associated with the first party 6, then the storage volume request 51 may further comprise a weight indication 52 associated with the requested storage volume 51. The Action 1002 of arranging the one or more movable partitioning walls 22, then further comprises arranging the one or more movable partitioning walls 22 such that selection of the selected separate storage compartment 245 takes into account the weight indication 52. Thus, as shown with support at least from FIGS. 3-5, consideration is taken to which separate storage compartment 24 may be suitable in view of expected weight of the luggage/cargo. Thus, not only is the dedicated separate storage compartment 245 adapted to the requested storage volume 51, but additionally is selection of storage compartment 24 based on indicated weight 52 of the expected luggage/cargo. Accordingly, for instance for luggage/cargo of relative extensive weight, storage compartments 24, 243, 244 situated relatively low within the storage area 21 may preferably be selected, and/or storage compartments 24 may be selected such that extensive weight is distributed within the storage area 21 in a preferred and/or suitable manner. In the shown example of FIG. 5, the first separate storage compartment 241 is selected as the selected separate storage compartment 245.
[0065] Furthermore, optionally, should the location request signal 5 be based on the storage volume request 51 associated with the first party 6, then the storage volume request 51 may further comprise a target destination indication 53 associated with the requested storage volume 51. The Action 1002 of arranging the one or more movable partitioning walls 22, then further comprises arranging the one or more movable partitioning walls 22 such that selection of the selected separate storage compartment 245 takes into account the target destination indication 53. Thus, as shown with support at least from FIGS. 3-5, consideration is taken to which separate storage compartment 24 may be suitable in view of indicated target destination 53 of the luggage/cargo. Thus, not only is the dedicated separate storage compartment 245 adapted to the requested storage volume 51, but additionally is selection of storage compartment 24 based on target destination 53 of the expected luggage/cargo. Accordingly, for instance for luggage/cargo with a target destination 53 of a relative short distance, storage compartments 24 situated such that they are relatively easily reachable and/or close to e.g. a tailgate may preferably be selected. In the shown example of FIG. 5, the first separate storage compartment 241 is selected as the selected separate storage compartment 245.
[0066] Action 1003
[0067] Should the location request signal 5 be based on the storage volume request 51 associated with the first party 6, then, in optional Action 1003, the storage area disposition system 1 assignse.g. by means of the optional compartment assigning unit 103the selected separate storage compartment 245 to the first party 6. Thus, as shown with support from at least FIGS. 3-6, at least one 221 of the one or more movable partitioning walls 22 is arranged based on a storage volume associated with a party 6e.g. a luggage volume 51 indicated by a potential ride-sharing vehicle occupantin such a manner that one 245 of the separate luggage compartments 24 is adapted to suit the requested storage volume 51, and the selected separate luggage compartment 245 is then reserved for that party 6. Accordingly, different separate storage compartments 24 may be adapted to meet different storage volume requests 51 and further be assigned to respective party 6 requesting the corresponding storage volume 51. Consequently, the storage area 21 may be divided into reservable separate adjustable storage compartments 24 to meet different storage volume requests 51 of different parties 6, such as e.g. different requested luggage volumes 51 of different potential ride-sharing vehicle occupants and/or different requested cargo volumes 51 of different potential cargo planning operators. In the shown example of FIG. 5, the first separate storage compartment 241 is assigned to the first party 6here the ride-sharing vehicle occupant.
[0068] Action 1004
[0069] Optionally, the first party 6 may be associated with a first access code and/or digital key 9. In optional Action 1004, the storage area disposition system 1 then enablese.g. by means of the optional access enabling unit 104the first access code and/or digital key 9 access to the selected separate storage compartment 245.
[0070] Thus, as shown with support from at least FIGS. 5-6, access to the selected separate storage compartment 245 is restricted to a holder, receiver and/or carrier 6, 7 of said first access code and/or digital key 9. The selected separate storage compartment 245 may accordingly be accessed via opening of its closing arrangement 25 when the correct access codei.e. the first access code 9is e.g. punched in in connection with a lock on the closing arrangement and/or when the correct digital keyi.e. the first digital key 9is provided e.g. wirelessly submitted. Opening of the closing arrangement 25 of the selected separate storage compartment may thus be accomplished in a manner known in the art, provided that the first access code and/or digital key 9 is produced. Access to the selected separate storage compartment 245 may for instance be enabled should an electronic user device 7 from which the first digital key 9 wirelessly may be submitted, come within a predetermined distance from the vehicle 2, storage area disposition system 1 and/or the selected separate storage area 245, such as e.g. within 50, 10 or 2 metres thereof. Accordingly, for instance a potential ride-sharing vehicle occupant who has knowledge of the first access code 9 and/or e.g. carries an electronic user device 7 from which the first digital key 9 is submitted, may thus access the selected separate storage compartment 245 for loading and/or unloading of his/her luggage. In a similar manner, for instance a potential cargo handling operator who has knowledge of the first access code 9 and/or e.g. carries an electronic user device 7 from which the first digital key 9 is submitted, may thus access the selected separate storage compartment 245 for loading and/or unloading of cargo intended for and/or stored in said selected storage compartment 245. In the shown example of FIG. 5, the ride-sharing vehicle occupant 6 assigned the selected separate storage compartment 245, 241, is enabled access to said selected storage compartment 245, 241 for loading/unloading of luggage, in that he or she carries an electronic user device 7 from which the first digital key 9 is submitted.
[0071] The person skilled in the art realizes that the present disclosure by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. It should furthermore be noted that the drawings not necessarily are to scale and the dimensions of certain features may have been exaggerated for the sake of clarity. Emphasis is instead placed upon illustrating the principle of the embodiments herein. Additionally, in the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality.
