METHOD AND NETWORK FOR PRE-CONDITIONING AT LEAST ONE COMPONENT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

An identification key associated with a motor vehicle is carried by a user as the user moves outside of the motor vehicle. When the identification key enters the reception range of short-range transceiver units, position data of the identification key are ascertained and transmitted via a far-field transceiver unit which is not included in the identification key. The receiver of the transmitted position data ascertains a movement vector for the identification key from the position data. If the movement vector meets at least one predefinable activation criterion, preconditioning of at least one component of the motor vehicle is activated.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A method for preconditioning at least one component of a motor vehicle, with which a first identification key is associated, comprising: providing a plurality of short-range transceiver units; ascertaining first position data of the first identification key carried by a user while the user moves outside of the motor vehicle as soon as the first identification key enters a reception range of a first one of the short-range transceiver units, the first short-range transceiver unit ascertaining the first position data of the first identification key; transmitting the first position data via a first far-field transceiver unit not disposed in the first identification key; ascertaining second position data of the first identification key, as soon as the first identification key enters the reception range of at least one further short-range transceiver unit among the short-range transceiver units, the further short-range transceiver unit ascertaining the second position data of the first identification key; transmitting the second position data via a second far-field transceiver unit; receiving at least the first and second position data by a third far-field transceiver unit; ascertaining at least one movement vector for the first identification key from at least the first and second position data; checking whether the movement vector meets at least one predefinable activation criterion for activating the preconditioning of the at least one component of the motor vehicle; and when the checking is affirmative, activating the preconditioning of the at least one component of the motor vehicle.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the short-range transceiver units are permanently installed in at least one of respective motor vehicles, respective second identification keys and respective infrastructure elements.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first and second far-field transceiver units are disposed in the at least one of respective motor vehicles, respective second identification keys and respective infrastructure elements, and/or wherein the first and second position data are initially transmitted serially by the short-range transceiver units in the at least one of respective motor vehicles, respective second identification keys and respective infrastructure elements, and a network element having both short-range and far-field transceiver units.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least the first and second position data are transmitted to the third far-field transceiver unit of a central data processing apparatus providing a backend server that performs the ascertaining.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the short-range transceiver units and the first, second and third far-field transceiver units form a communication network to the central data processing apparatus.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising: transmitting from the central data processing apparatus, by way of the third far-field transceiver unit, at least one of the position data of the first identification key and the movement vector to a fourth far-field transceiver unit associated with the first motor vehicle; transmitting, from the fourth far-field transceiver unit, the at least one of the position data and the movement vector to a control apparatus of the first motor vehicle; and wherein the control apparatus performs the checking and activating.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the central data processing apparatus performs the checking and activating.

22. The method according to claim 18, further comprising: transmitting from the central data processing apparatus, by way of the third far-field transceiver unit, at least one of the position data of the first identification key and the movement vector to a fourth far-field transceiver unit associated with the first motor vehicle; transmitting, from the fourth far-field transceiver unit, the at least one of the position data and the movement vector to a control apparatus of the first motor vehicle; and wherein the control apparatus performs the checking and activating.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein at least one of the first identification key and the further identification keys are one of a vehicle key, a chip card and a mobile terminal.

24. The method according to claim 23, the activating the preconditioning is of at least one of: an air-conditioning apparatus; a unit bearing mounting drive and auxiliary units; a chassis bearing in a wheel-motor vehicle body transmission chain; a vehicle battery; a catalytic converter; a vehicle tank; and a power electronics component.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the checking is of a predefinable activation criterion, including at least one of: within a predefinable distance radius of the first motor vehicle, while a direction of the movement vector, including both direction and speed, over a predefinable period of time meets a predefinable direction criterion, and a sequence of movement patterns learned and are stored in at least one of the central data processing system and the control apparatus of the first motor vehicle.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising varying, as a parameter of the preconditioning, power supplied to the at least one component of the motor vehicle depending on the sequence of movement patterns.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising: transmitting, by at least one of the short-range transceiver units and the first, second, third and fourth far-field transceiver units of the network, relevant data to the central data processing apparatus; predicting, by the central data processing apparatus from the relevant data, a speed of movement for the first identification key until arrival of the first identification key at the first motor vehicle; and establishing, by at least one of the central data processing apparatus and the control apparatus of the first motor vehicle, an activation time of the at least one component of the motor vehicle depending on the speed of movement.

28. The method according to claim 18, further comprising: transmitting, by at least one of the short-range transceiver units and the first, second and third far-field transceiver units, relevant data to the central data processing apparatus; predicting, by the central data processing apparatus from the relevant data, a speed of movement for the first identification key until arrival of the first identification key at the first motor vehicle; and establishing, by at least one of the central data processing apparatus and the control apparatus of the first motor vehicle, an activation time of the at least one component of the motor vehicle depending on the speed of movement.

29. The method according to claim 18, wherein the checking is of a predefinable activation criterion, including at least one of: within a predefinable distance radius of the first motor vehicle, while a direction of the movement vector, including both direction and speed, over a predefinable period of time meets a predefinable direction criterion, and a sequence of movement patterns learned and are stored in at least one of the central data processing system and the control apparatus of the first motor vehicle.

30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising varying, as a parameter of the preconditioning, power supplied to the at least one component of the motor vehicle depending on the sequence of movement patterns.

31. The method according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the first identification key and the further identification keys are one of a vehicle key, a chip card and a mobile terminal.

32. The method according to claim 15, the activating the preconditioning is of at least one of: an air-conditioning apparatus; a unit bearing mounting drive and auxiliary units; a chassis bearing in a wheel-motor vehicle body transmission chain; a vehicle battery; a catalytic converter; a vehicle tank; and a power electronics component.

33. A network for preconditioning at least one component of a motor vehicle with which an identification key is associated, comprising: short-range transceiver units, each configured to ascertain position data of the identification key carried by a user while the user moves outside of the motor vehicle, as soon as the identification key enters a reception range thereof; far-field transceiver units, each configured to transmit the position data via a far-field transmission of which the identification key is incapable; and a central data processing apparatus configured to receive from at least one far-field transceiver unit, at least first and second position data ascertained by at least first and second short-range transceivers, ascertain at least one movement vector for the identification key from the at least first and second position data, checking whether the movement vector meets at least one predefinable activation criterion for activating the preconditioning of the at least one component of the motor vehicle, and transmit, via the at least one far-field transceiver unit, an instruction to the motor vehicle to activate the preconditioning of the at least one component of the motor vehicle, when the checking is affirmative.

34. Non-transitory computer-readable media embodying program code that when executed by control devices of short-range transceiver units, at least one far-field transceiver unit and a central data processing apparatus perform a method for preconditioning at least one component of a motor vehicle with which an identification key is associated, comprising: ascertaining, by a first short-range transceiver unit, first position data of the identification key carried by a user while the user moves outside of the motor vehicle, as soon as the identification key enters a reception range of the first short-range transceiver unit; transmitting the first position data via a far-field transmission of which the identification key is incapable; ascertaining, by a further short-range transceiver unit, second position data of the identification key, as soon as the identification key enters the reception range of the further short-range transceiver unit; transmitting the second position data via another far-field transmission; receiving at least the first and second position data by a far-field transceiver unit; ascertaining at least one movement vector for the identification key from at least the first and second position data; checking whether the movement vector meets at least one predefinable activation criterion for activating the preconditioning of the at least one component of the motor vehicle; and activating the preconditioning of the at least one component of the motor vehicle when the checking is affirmative.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment; and

[0029] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0031] In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features that should be considered independently of one another and that each also develop the invention independently of one another. The disclosure is therefore also intended to include combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those illustrated. In addition, the described embodiments can also be complemented by further features that have already been described.

[0032] In the figures, identical reference signs each denote functionally identical elements.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a road 10 with two lanes 12a, 12b, on which respective motor vehicles 14a, 14b are traveling in accordance with the direction arrows shown. Vehicles 16a, 16b, 16c are parked on the right-hand side of the lane 12b. The vehicle 16c is the vehicle of a user 18a, and therefore, in the context of this exemplary embodiment, an ego-vehicle. Accordingly, the vehicles 16a and 16b are other vehicles. The user 18a walks along a sidewalk 20 in accordance with the associated direction arrow and, in doing so, goes past the motor vehicles 16a, 16b. The user 18 carries an identification key 22a, for example a vehicle key, a chip card or a mobile terminal, for example a smartphone.

[0034] Short-range transceiver units 24a, 24b and far-field transceiver units 26a, 26b are arranged in the motor vehicles 16a, 16b. The respective units are in each case coupled to one another within a vehicle.

[0035] At least one far-field receiver unit 26c, a control apparatus 28 and a component 30 to be preconditioned are arranged in the motor vehicle 16c.

[0036] One exemplary embodiment of the method is described below with reference to FIG. 2:

[0037] In S1, accordingly, a plurality of short-range transceiver units 24a, 24b are provided. In S2, the identification key 22a is carried by the user 18a as the user 18a moves outside of their motor vehicle 16c. As soon as the user's identification key 22a enters the reception range 32a of the short-range transceiver unit 24a, first position data of the identification key 22a are ascertained by the short-range transceiver unit 24a (S3). These ascertained first position data are transmitted, via the far-field transceiver unit 26a arranged in the vehicle 16a, to a far-field transceiver unit 34 of a central data processing apparatus 36 (S4). As the user 18a walks along the sidewalk 20, their identification key 22a then enters the reception range 32b of the short-range transceiver unit 24b of the motor vehicle 16b, which then ascertains second position data of the identification key 22a by the further short-range transceiver unit 24b (S5). These ascertained second position data are also transmitted, via the far-field transceiver unit 26b of the motor vehicle 16b, to the far-field transceiver unit 34 of the central data processing apparatus 36 (S6). In S7, the transmitted first and second position data are received by the far-field transceiver unit 34 of the central data processing apparatus 36, and a movement vector for the identification key 18a is ascertained from the received position data. While the first and second position data likely are received by the far-field transceiver unit 34 of the central data processing apparatus 36 at different times, the reception is simplified here for the purpose of explanation.

[0038] In S8, it is checked whether the ascertained movement vector meets a predefinable activation criterion for activating the preconditioning of the component 30 of the motor vehicle 16c. In this regard, it can be checked whether the user 18a undershoots a predefinable distance radius 38 from their motor vehicle 16c. This ascertainment may occur in the central data processing apparatus 36. If the result is affirmative, in S9, the preconditioning of the component 30 of the motor vehicle 16c is activated by the far-field transceiver unit 34 of the central data processing apparatus 36 transmitting a corresponding activation signal to the far-field transceiver unit 34 of the motor vehicle 16c, which transmits the received activation signal to the control apparatus 28, which then actuates the component 30. If the result of the check in S9 is negative, the second position data become first position data (S10) and the method returns to S5.

[0039] In embodiments that are not illustrated, a plurality of position data can also be evaluated in order to ascertain a movement vector, wherein the method must then be adapted accordingly.

[0040] Energy storage apparatuses in the identification key 22a and in the motor vehicles 16a to 16c for supplying the identification key 22a and the motor vehicles 16a to 16c with electrical energy are not illustrated.

[0041] As can be seen from FIG. 1, a further user 18b with an identification key 22b is walking along the sidewalk 20 in front of the user 18a. By evaluating the position data of the identification key 18b, a speed of movement of the user 22a can be predicted and taken into account in the generation of the activation signal for activating the component 30 of the motor vehicle 16c by the data processing apparatus 36. For example, if the predicted movement speed is low, the activation of the preconditioning can take place at a later time than in the case of a high predicted movement speed. Furthermore, if the predicted movement speed is high, the activation signal can be formed such that the component 30 is operated at higher power through corresponding actuation by the control apparatus 28 than in the case of a low predicted movement speed.

[0042] A description has been provided with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the claims which may include the phrase “at least one of A, B and C” as an alternative expression that means one or more of A, B and C may be used, contrary to the holding in Superguide v. DIRECTV, 358 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).