Driving Control System for a Vehicle

Abstract

A driving control system including a sensor unit, a data storage unit, a user communication means and a control unit. The sensor unit is arrangeable in a first vehicle and configured to generate at least one user-specific driving parameter of at least one user travelling with the first vehicle. The at least one user-specific driving parameter is based on a driver's driving behavior of the first vehicle. The user communication means is configured to receive an input of the user to store the at least one user-specific driving parameter in the data storage unit and activate the stored at least one user-specific driving parameter in a second vehicle to be occupied by the user. The control unit is configured to transmit the at least one user-specific driving parameter of the user from the data storage unit to the second vehicle.

Claims

1. A driving control system for a vehicle, comprising: a sensor unit; a data storage unit; a user communication; and a control unit; the sensor unit being arrangeable in a first vehicle and configured to generate at least one user-specific driving parameter of at least one user travelling with the first vehicle; the at least one user-specific driving parameter being based on a driver's driving behavior of the first vehicle; the user communication means being configured to receive an input of the user to store the at least one user-specific driving parameter in the data storage unit and activate the stored at least one user-specific driving parameter in a second vehicle to be occupied by the user; the control unit being configured to transmit the at least one user-specific driving parameter of the user from the data storage unit to the second vehicle; the control unit being configured to control the second vehicle based on the transmitted at least one user-specific driving parameter; and the user communication means being arrangeable in a mobile device of the user.

2. The driving control system according to claim 1, the user being a driver or a passenger in the first vehicle and/or a driver or a passenger in the second vehicle.

3. The driving control system according to claim 1, the control unit being configured to generate a user profile of the user based on the at least one user-specific driving parameter, the control unit being configured to transmit the at least one user-specific driving parameter only if the user activates the at least one user-specific driving parameter in the second vehicle.

4. The driving control system according to claim 1, the at least one user-specific driving parameter being one of a distance to a preceding vehicle, lane positioning, turning speed, lane correction, overtaking, a brake velocity, a steering angle acceleration and/or a brake distance.

5. The driving control system according to claim 1, the sensor unit, the data storage unit and/or the control unit comprising a wireless communication element.

6. The driving control system according to claim 1, the control unit being configured to analyze a tendency of a change of the at least one user-specific driving parameter stored in the data storage unit and adjust the at least one user-specific driving parameter based on the tendency.

7. The driving control system according to claim 3, further comprising a graphical user interface unit configured to show the user profile, the at least one user-specific driving parameter and/or the tendency of the change of the at least one user-specific driving parameter, being transmitted to the second vehicle.

8. The driving control system according to claim 7, the graphical user interface unit being further configured to show two or more different user profiles.

9. The driving control system according to claim 8, the graphical user interface unit being further configured to receive an input of the user selected from the different user profiles shown in the graphical user interface unit.

10. The driving control system according to claim 1, the user profile further comprising at least one ambient preference of the user.

11. The driving control system according to claim 1, the user profile further comprising information about at least one user-specific facility.

12. A vehicle, comprising: a driver assistance system, the driver assistance system operating with a driving control system, the driving control system comprising: a sensor unit; a data storage unit; a user communication; and a control unit; the sensor unit being arrangeable in a first vehicle and configured to generate at least one user-specific driving parameter of at least one user travelling with the first vehicle; the at least one user-specific driving parameter being based on a driver's driving behavior of the first vehicle; the user communication means being configured to receive an input of the user to store the at least one user-specific driving parameter in the data storage unit and activate the stored at least one user-specific driving parameter in a second vehicle to be occupied by the user; the control unit being configured to transmit the at least one user-specific driving parameter of the user from the data storage unit to the second vehicle; the control unit being configured to control the second vehicle based on the transmitted at least one user-specific driving parameter; and the user communication means being arrangeable in a mobile device of the user.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, the vehicle being configured to be propelled fully automated.

14. A method for a driving control for a vehicle, comprising generating at least one user-specific driving parameter of at least one user travelling with a first vehicle; storing the at least one user-specific driving parameter in a data storage unit based on an input of the user; activating the stored at least one user-specific driving parameter in a second vehicle to be occupied by the user; transmitting the at least one user-specific driving parameter of the user from the data storage unit to the second vehicle; and controlling the second vehicle based on the at least one user-specific driving parameter; the sensor unit being arrangeable in the first vehicle; the at least one user-specific driving parameter being based on a driver's driving behavior of the first vehicle; and the communication means being arrangeable in a mobile device of the user.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions stored in a memory and executed by a processor to cause a driving control system to carry out the steps comprising: generating at least one user-specific driving parameter of at least one user travelling with a first vehicle; storing the at least one user-specific driving parameter in a data storage unit based on an input of the user; activating the stored at least one user-specific driving parameter in a second vehicle to be occupied by the user; transmitting the at least one user-specific driving parameter of the user from the data storage unit to the second vehicle; and controlling the second vehicle based on the at least one user-specific driving parameter; the sensor unit being arrangeable in the first vehicle; the at least one user-specific driving parameter being based on a driver's driving behavior of the first vehicle; and the communication means being arrangeable in a mobile device of the user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Exemplary embodiments will be described in the following with reference to the following drawings.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows schematically and exemplarily an embodiment of a vehicle operating with a driving control system according to the present disclosure.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows schematically and exemplarily an embodiment of a method for a driving control for a vehicle according to the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0044] FIG. 1 shows vehicles 100, 200 including a driver assistance system (not shown), which is supported by a driving control system 1. The driver assistance system may assist a driver of the vehicle for any operational decisions or allow an autonomous travelling of the vehicle. The vehicles 100, 200 may be a private vehicle of a user or another person, a shared vehicle, a taxi and/or a robocab.

[0045] The driving control system 1 for a vehicle includes a sensor unit 10, a data storage unit 20, a user communication means 30 and a control unit (not shown). The sensor unit 10 is arrangeable in a first vehicle 100 and configured to generate at least one user-specific driving parameter of at least one user travelling with the first vehicle 100. The user may be a driver or a passenger of the first vehicle 100. The sensor unit 10 includes a plurality of sensor elements such as vehicle control sensor elements, vehicle monitoring sensor elements, environment monitoring sensor elements, driver monitoring sensor elements or the like. The at least one user-specific driving parameter is based on a driver's driving behavior of the first vehicle 100 and includes, for instance a distance to a preceding vehicle, lane positioning, turning speed, lane correction, overtaking, a brake velocity, a steering angle acceleration and/or a brake distance.

[0046] The user communication means 30 is configured to receive an input of the user to store the at least one user-specific driving parameter in the data storage unit 20 and activate the stored at least one user-specific driving parameter in a second vehicle 200 to be occupied by the user. The second vehicle 200 may be the same or a different vehicle as the first vehicle 100. In the second vehicle 200 the user may be a driver or passenger. The user communication means 30 is arrangeable in a mobile device of the user to facilitate a utilization of the driving control system 1.

[0047] The data storage unit 20 is configured to receive the at least one user-specific driving parameter from the sensor unit 10 based on the user's input via the user communication means 30. Preferably, the data storage unit 20 is cloud-based, thereby an access to the data storage unit 20 may not be limited to an access location of the user as long as a network connection to the data storage unit 20 is available.

[0048] The control unit is configured to generate a user profile and categorize the user-specific driving parameter in the respective user profile based on the user's input via the user communication means 30. The user profile further includes at least one ambient preference of the user. The ambient preference may include cabin temperature, seat adjustment, cabin lighting, music/sound setting, etc. the user profile further includes information about at least one user-specific facility. The user-specific facility may include at least one auxiliary requirement such as children car seat, wheel chair, PC table, baby stroller, etc.

[0049] Further, the control unit is configured to transmit the at least one user-specific driving parameter from the data storage unit 20 to the second vehicle 200, if the user actives the user profile in the second vehicle 200. Based on the transmitted at least one user-specific driving parameter the control unit controls the second vehicle 200.

[0050] The control unit is further configured to analyze a tendency of a change of the at least one user-specific driving parameter stored in the data storage unit 20 and adjust the at least one user-specific driving parameter based on the tendency. In other words, the control unit may be configured to perform a dynamic adaption of the user-specific driving parameter to be transmitted to the second vehicle 200.

[0051] The sensor unit 10, the data storage unit 20 and/or the control unit include a wireless communication element. The wireless communication element may include wireless internet access, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or the like.

[0052] The driving control system 1 further includes a graphical user interface unit 40 configured to show the user profile, the at least one user-specific driving parameter, which is transmitted to the second vehicle 200. The graphical user interface unit 40 also allows the user to enter the input via a display of the graphical user interface unit 40.

[0053] The graphical user interface unit 40 may be integrated in the user communication means 30, the first vehicle 100 and/or the second vehicle 200. The graphical user interface unit 40 may facilitate the utilization of the driving control system 1 by graphically constituting data exchange among the data storage unit 20, the first vehicle 100 and/or the second vehicle 200. The graphical user interface unit 40 is further configured to show two or more different user profiles.

[0054] Accordingly, the driving control system 1 allows a customized travel of a vehicle, even though the vehicle does not belong to a user occupied in the vehicle. By allowing the user-specific preferences to transmit among different vehicles, with which the user travels, the vehicles can easily implement the customized travel. Accordingly, the vehicles may provide more comfort and trust to the user.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a schematic flow chart of a method for a driving control for a vehicle. The method includes: [0056] S1: generating at least one user-specific driving parameter of at least one user travelling with a first vehicle 100, [0057] S11: receiving an input of a user to store the at least one user-specific driving parameter, [0058] S12: generating a user profile of the user based on the at least one user-specific driving parameter, [0059] S13: analyzing a tendency of a change of the at least one user-specific driving parameter stored in the data storage unit 20 and adjusting the at least one user-specific driving parameter based on the tendency, [0060] S14: manually modifying the at least one user-specific driving parameter, [0061] S2: storing the at least one user-specific driving parameter in a data storage unit 20, [0062] S21: showing user profile(s) in graphical user interface unit 40, [0063] S22: receiving an input of the user selected from the user profiles, [0064] S23: showing the at least one user-specific driving parameter and/or the tendency of the change of the at least one user-specific driving parameter in the graphical user interface unit 40, which being transmitted to the second vehicle 200 of a second vehicle 200 to be occupied by the user, [0065] S3: activating the at least one user-specific driving parameter in the second vehicle 200, [0066] S4: transmitting the at least one user-specific driving parameter of the user from the data storage unit 20 to the second vehicle 200, [0067] S5: controlling the second vehicle 200 based on the at least one user-specific driving parameter, and [0068] S51: receiving a feedback on the at least one user-specific driving parameter applied in the second vehicle 200.

[0069] The driving control system and the method for a driving control is suitable for both of an autonomous vehicle and a manually driven vehicle including a driver assistance system. Further, the user of the driving control system may be either a driver or a passenger of the vehicles. For instance, even though the second vehicle is a taxi, the user may be able to active and/or modify his/her user-specific driving preferences and provide the driver or the driving control system a feedback after his/her travel ends.

[0070] It has to be noted that embodiments of the disclosure are described with reference to different subject matters. In particular, some embodiments are described with reference to method type claims whereas other embodiments are described with reference to the device type claims. However, a person skilled in the art will gather from the above and the following description that, unless otherwise notified, in addition to any combination of features belonging to one type of subject matter also any combination between features relating to different subject matters is considered to be disclosed with this application. However, all features can be combined providing synergetic effects that are more than the simple summation of the features.

[0071] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing a claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the dependent claims.

[0072] 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. A single processor or other unit may fulfil the functions of several items re-cited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are re-cited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.