Method, System, Computer Program and Computer-Readable Data Storage Medium for Processing Vehicle Data

Abstract

A method for processing vehicle data includes receiving, by a computer system, via a first data transmission channel, a first subset of vehicle data recorded in a vehicle. The method also includes receiving, by the computer system, via a second data transmission channel, a second subset of the vehicle data. The method further includes selecting, by way of the computer system, data that are to be processed from the first and the second subset of the vehicle data on the basis of at least one predetermined selection criterion.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A method for processing vehicle data, the method comprising the following steps: receiving, by a computer system, via a first data transmission channel, a first subset of vehicle data recorded in a vehicle, receiving, by the computer system, via a second data transmission channel, a second subset of the vehicle data, selecting, by way of the computer system, data that are to be processed from the first and the second subset of the vehicle data on the basis of at least one predetermined selection criterion.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein: the first data transmission channel is a streaming layer channel via which the first subset of the vehicle data is received wirelessly, and the second data transmission channel is a batch layer channel in which the second subset of the vehicle data is received via a local data link.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step: receiving, by the computer system, at least one third subset of the vehicle data via at least one third data transmission channel.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one third data transmission channel is at least one further streaming layer channel via which the at least one third subset of the vehicle data is received wirelessly.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at least one predetermined selection criterion is based on requirements regarding an availability of the vehicle data and/or a temporal sequence of the transmission of the vehicle data and/or a quality of the vehicle data and/or a quality of an analysis of the vehicle data.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first subset and the second subset of the vehicle data comprise at least partially identical data types.

17. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one predetermined selection criterion is based on requirements regarding an availability of the vehicle data and/or a temporal sequence of the transmission of the vehicle data and/or a quality of the vehicle data and/or a quality of an analysis of the vehicle data.

18. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the step: receiving, by the computer system, at least one third subset of the vehicle data via at least one third data transmission channel.

19. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first subset and the second subset of the vehicle data comprise at least partially identical data types.

20. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and the second subset of the vehicle data are read in by means of a backend module of the computer system before selecting (104) data that are to be processed.

21. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one predetermined selection criterion is based on requirements regarding an availability of the vehicle data and/or a temporal sequence of the transmission of the vehicle data and/or a quality of the vehicle data and/or a quality of an analysis of the vehicle data.

22. A computer system for processing vehicle data, wherein the computer system is configured to: receive, via a first data transmission channel, a first subset of vehicle data recorded in a vehicle, receive, via a second data transmission channel, a second subset of the vehicle data, and select data that are to be processed from the first and the second subset of the vehicle data on the basis of at least one predetermined selection criterion.

23. The computer system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the first data transmission channel is a streaming layer channel via which the first subset of the vehicle data is received wirelessly, and the second data transmission channel is a batch layer channel in which the second subset of the vehicle data is received via a local data link.

24. A computer program comprising commands which, when the computer program is executed by a computer, cause the latter to execute the method as claimed in claim 1.

25. The computer program as claimed in claim 24, wherein the first data transmission channel is a streaming layer channel via which the first subset of the vehicle data is received wirelessly, and the second data transmission channel is a batch layer channel in which the second subset of the vehicle data is received via a local data link.

26. A computer-readable storage medium on which the computer program as claimed in claim 25 is stored.

27. A computer-readable storage medium on which the computer program as claimed in claim 24 is stored.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a system for processing vehicle data according to one exemplary embodiment, and

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a method for processing vehicle data according to one exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a system 1 for processing vehicle data according to one exemplary embodiment. The system 1 comprises a vehicle 2, a computer system 3 and a storage device 4. In this exemplary embodiment, the vehicle 2 is a passenger car but can also be any other vehicle. In this exemplary embodiment, the computer system 3 is a server which is connected to the storage device 4. Alternatively, the computer system 3 can however also be a computer cluster or any other computer system.

[0032] The vehicle 2 has an on-board measuring device 5, i.e. a measuring device 5 located on or in the vehicle 2, which is used to record various measurement data of the vehicle 2. For example, data of a motor 6 of the vehicle 2 and/or other vehicle data of the vehicle 2 are recorded by the measuring device 5.

[0033] Furthermore, the vehicle 2 has a vehicle diagnostic system 7 which is used to record further various vehicle data, such as, for example, a data bus communication in the vehicle 2. The vehicle diagnostic system 7 is, for example, a so-called over-the-air logger.

[0034] Moreover, the vehicle 2 has a data logger 8 which monitors and records all of the data generated in the vehicle 2 or received by the vehicle 2. These include measurement data arising in the vehicle 2, data bus communications, error messages, etc. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, all of the data acquired by the measuring device 5 and the vehicle diagnostic system 7 are also acquired in the vehicle 2 by way of the data logger 8—along with data of other elements not shown here.

[0035] In this exemplary embodiment, the on-board measuring device 5 has a first GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) module 9 which can log in to a mobile radio network and transmit or receive data via this mobile radio network. The vehicle diagnostic system 7 has a second GSM module 10 which corresponds in its operation to the first GSM module 9. The data logger 8 has a hard disk 11 on which the data collected by the data logger 8 are stored. Alternatively, the data logger 8 can also have another storage device.

[0036] In this exemplary embodiment, the hard disk 11 has a data interface having a plug connector via which the hard disk 11 in this exemplary embodiment is separably connected to the data logger 8 and, when the hard disk 11 is separated from the data logger 8, can be connected to another computer system, for example the computer system 3. Alternatively, a computer system can be connected to the plug connector of the hard disk 11, for example, via a wire, for example when the hard disk 11 is integrated into the data logger 8.

[0037] A first streaming layer channel 12 to the computer system 3 is established via the first GSM module 9. Via this first streaming layer channel 12, the on-board measuring device 5 sends, by means of the first GSM module 9, the data recorded by the on-board measuring device 5 to the computer system 3. In this exemplary embodiment, this happens immediately or with a delay of up to a few minutes after recording the corresponding data by way of the measuring device 5.

[0038] Analogously, via the second GSM module 10, the data recorded by the vehicle diagnostic system 7 are sent via a second streaming layer channel 13 to the computer system 3. This likewise happens immediately or with a delay of up to a few minutes after recording the data by way of the vehicle diagnostic system 7.

[0039] In this exemplary embodiment, the data recorded by the data logger 8 and stored in the hard disk 11 are sent to the computer system 3 via the above-described interface via a batch layer channel 14. This happens at least partially with a time delay of several hours, days or even weeks after acquiring the corresponding data by way of the data logger 8. For this purpose, the hard disk 11 is connected to the computer system 3 directly or via a wire, for example. Alternatively, the hard disk 11 can also for this purpose be connected to a further computer system not shown here, from which the data of the hard disk 11 are read out and subsequently, for example via the Internet, are sent to the computer system 3.

[0040] In the exemplary embodiment shown here, important data are recorded by the measuring device 5 and the vehicle diagnostic system 7 for a vehicle analysis in each case, in the case of which it is advantageous to send these data as far as possible promptly to the computer system 3 for further processing or analysis. The described streaming layer channels 12 and 13 are the fastest option for this in the system 1.

[0041] During a journey of the vehicle 2 through a region which is not covered by a mobile radio network, for example in a tunnel, it can however be the case that data which are intended to be sent to the computer system 3 from the measuring device 5 or from the vehicle diagnostic system 7 go missing or are transmitted only with errors. Other impairments of the streaming layer channels 12 and 13 can also result in data going missing or in their quality being impaired. Moreover, it is possible, so as not to overload the streaming layer channels 12 and 13, to transmit the data acquired by the measuring device 5 and the vehicle diagnostic system 7 only with a low resolution or only partially.

[0042] The data acquired by the data logger 8 comprise all the vehicle data of the vehicle 2, i.e. therefore also those data which were recorded by the measuring device 5 and the vehicle diagnostic system 7. When all of the data are transmitted from the hard disk 11 to the computer system 3, it can thus be the case that data of the same type, which were already sent to the computer system 3 via the streaming layer channels 12 and 13, are read out again from the hard disk 11. However, it can be the case here that the corresponding data are present on the hard disk 11 with a better resolution, better quality or to a greater extent, e.g. provided with more extensive metadata.

[0043] The computer system 3 has a backend module 15 which acts as a read-in layer (also known as an “ingestion layer”) for all the data received via the first streaming layer channel 12, the second streaming layer channel 13 and the batch layer channel 14.

[0044] The backend module 15 stores predetermined selection criteria, on the basis of which the backend module 15 makes a selection as to which of the data sent via the three channels 12, 13, 14 mentioned should be processed or stored or forwarded. The selected data are then analyzed in an analysis module 16 of the computer system 3 and/or stored in the storage device 4.

[0045] In the exemplary embodiment shown here, criteria based on an availability of the data, based on a quality of the data and based on a quality of an analysis of the data, which are received via the three channels 12, 13, 14, are selected as selection criteria, for example.

[0046] Regarding the selection criterion of the availability, it is checked, by way of the backend module 15, for example, whether the received data are already present. This relates in particular to the data that were read in via the batch layer channel 14, since it can be the case that parts of the data stored in the hard disk 11 were already read in via the first or the second streaming layer channel 12, 13. If the data are already present, further processing and/or storage of the data can be dispensed with. If the corresponding data are still not present, the corresponding data can be processed or stored. In this way, storing identical data twice is avoided, which results in storage space optimization in the storage device 4.

[0047] Furthermore, selection criteria can be based, for example, on a speed of the data availability. For example, data which are transmitted without a significant time delay, i.e. which are transmitted via the streaming layer channels 12, 13, can be preferred to corresponding data which are transmitted via the batch layer channel 14 with a time delay in terms of their acquisition in the vehicle 2. This allows faster data processing of the data sent via the streaming layer channels 12, 13. However, if a data quality for processing the corresponding data in the computer system 3 is of significant importance, selection criteria regarding the quality or validity of the received data can also be used. For example, preference can be given in principle to data of better quality. Thus, when receiving the respective data, it can be checked in the backend module 15 whether corresponding data are already present in sufficient quality, or whether qualitatively better data should be selected for the further processing, when the data received via the batch layer channel 14 correspond to a data type of data that have already been received but have a better quality. This can correspondingly apply when the collected data are already analyzed in the vehicle 2 and sent to the computer system 3, also for a quality of the analyses of the data.

[0048] The selection criteria mentioned here are merely examples of a multiplicity of possible selection criteria. The selection criteria can also be used together for selecting the data that are to be processed.

[0049] By way of the above-described system, storage space optimization in the storage device 4 and faster data processing in the computer system 3 are achieved. Overall, a data basis for an analysis of the vehicle data collected in the vehicle 2 is thus improved.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a method 100 for processing vehicle data according to one exemplary embodiment.

[0051] In a first step 101, vehicle data are recorded by means of a data processing device of a vehicle. For this purpose, for example, the devices described in relation to FIG. 1, such as the on-board measuring device 5, the vehicle diagnostic system 7 and the data logger 8, are used.

[0052] In a further step 102, a first subset of the vehicle data is received by a computer system via a first data transmission channel. The first subset of the vehicle data is, for example, all or some of the data collected by the above-described measuring device 5. Alternatively, another selection of data can also be transmitted as first subset.

[0053] The first subset is, for example, transmitted to the computer system via a first streaming layer channel, as described in relation to FIG. 1.

[0054] In further steps 103 and 104, a second and a third subset of the vehicle data are received by the computer system via a second and a third data transmission channel. The second subset of the vehicle data is, for example, all of the data acquired in the vehicle. This corresponds to the data which are recorded by the data logger 8 described in relation to FIG. 1. The third subset is, for example, the data which are recorded by the vehicle diagnostic system 7 described in relation to FIG. 1. Alternatively, another selection of data can also of course be transmitted as second and third subset.

[0055] The second subset is, for example, transmitted to the computer system via a batch layer channel, as described in relation to FIG. 1. The third subset is, for example, transmitted to the computer system via a second streaming layer channel, as described in relation to FIG. 1.

[0056] The steps 102, 103 and 104 can proceed at the same time or at different times. The steps 102, 103 and 104 can also be carried out continuously or repeatedly. All or some of the steps 102, 103 and 104 can also be carried out in parallel with the first step 101.

[0057] In a further step 105, by way of the computer system, data that are to be processed are selected from the first, the second and the third subset of the vehicle data on the basis of at least one predetermined selection criterion. The selected data are then analyzed, stored, forwarded or otherwise processed.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0058] 1 system [0059] 2 vehicle [0060] 3 computer system [0061] 4 storage device [0062] 5 measuring device [0063] 6 motor [0064] 7 vehicle diagnostic system [0065] 8 data logger [0066] 9 first GSM module [0067] 10 second GSM module [0068] 11 hard disk [0069] 12 first streaming layer channel [0070] 13 second streaming layer channel [0071] 14 batch layer channel [0072] 15 backend module [0073] 16 analysis module [0074] 100 method [0075] 101-105 method steps