METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE

Abstract

A method, apparatus, system, vehicle, and/or computer program provides that one or more components of a vehicle are operated as a function of a predetermined pick-up time of the vehicle at a pick-up position of a parking facility in such a way that the vehicle exhibits one or more predetermined states at the pick-up position at the predetermined pick-up time.

Claims

1-27. (canceled)

28. A method comprising: operating one or more vehicle components of a vehicle as a function of a predetermined pick-up time of the vehicle at a pick-up position of a parking facility in such a way that the vehicle exhibits one or more predetermined states at the pick-up position at the predetermined pick-up time.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more states includes a predetermined passenger-compartment temperature of the vehicle and the one or more vehicle components includes at least one of an engine-independent heater and an air-conditioning system operated whose operation as a function of the predetermined pick-up time is such that the vehicle has the predetermined passenger-compartment temperature.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one of the air-conditioning system and engine-independent heater is operated in a recirculation mode or in a fresh-air mode.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising measuring a quality of air surrounding the vehicle, and selecting between either the recirculation mode or the fresh-air mode as a function of the measured quality of the air surrounding the vehicle.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more vehicle components includes one or more driver assistance systems operated as a function of the predetermined pick-up time in such a way that, as one of the one or more predetermined states, the vehicle has one or more driver assistance systems ready for use.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more vehicle components includes one or more vehicle seat heaters operated as a function of the predetermined pick-up time in such a way that, as one of the one or more predetermined states, at least one seat of the vehicle assigned to the one or more vehicle seat heaters has a predetermined vehicle seat temperature.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more vehicle components includes one or more window heaters operated as a function of the predetermined pick-up time in such a way that, as one of the one or more predetermined states, at least one window of the vehicle assigned to the one or more window heaters is at least partially defrosted.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more vehicle components includes one or more seat-adjustment devices for adjustment of at least one seat and that is operated as a function of the predetermined pick-up time in such a way that, as one of the one or more predetermined states, the at least one seat is adjusted in a predetermined position.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more vehicle components includes a steering-wheel adjustment device operated as a function of the predetermined pick-up time in such a way that, as one of the one or more predetermined states, a steering wheel of the vehicle is adjusted in a predetermined position.

37. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more vehicle components includes one or more mirror-adjustment devices operated as a function of the predetermined pick-up time in such a way that, as one of the one or more predetermined states, at least one mirror of the vehicle is adjusted in a predetermined position.

38. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more vehicle components includes at least one of a radio and a navigation device that, as a function of and prior to the predetermined pick-up time, request at least one of current and future traffic information via a communication network with sufficient time to be able to download the requested traffic information via the communication network prior to the predetermined pick-up time, so that, as one of the one or more predetermined states, the at least one of the radio and navigation device stores the requested traffic information.

39. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more vehicle components includes a door actuator for unlocking and locking one or more vehicle door and that is operated as a function of the predetermined pick-up time to unlock the one or more vehicle doors, so that as one of the one or more predetermined states, the vehicle has one or more unlocked vehicle doors at the predetermined pick-up time.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein, even with a passing of the predetermined pick-up time, the door actuator unlocks the one or more vehicle doors as a function of the predetermined pick-up time only if a least one person is detected at the pick-up position.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein, even with a passing of the predetermined pick-up time, the door actuator unlocks the one or more vehicle doors as a function of the predetermined pick-up time only if a least one person, who has been recognized as authorized for access of the vehicle, is detected at the pick-up position.

42. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more vehicle components includes a navigation device that, as a function of and prior to the predetermined pick-up time, ascertains, or receives via a communication network, a route to a desired destination position, so that, as one of the one or more predetermined states, the vehicle has a navigation device prepared for navigation to the desired destination position.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein, after a driver of the vehicle has been detected getting into the vehicle, the navigation device makes the ascertained route available via a human-machine interface to the driver who has gotten in.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the navigation device receives the desired destination position via the communication network and ascertains the route to the destination position based on the destination position.

45. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more vehicle components includes a drive motor operated, as a function of the predetermined pick-up time and as one of the one or more predetermined states, to be in a started state, permitting the vehicle to drive off at the predetermined pick-up time.

46. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more vehicle components includes a drive motor operated, as a function of the predetermined pick-up time and as one of the one or more predetermined states, to be adjusted into a started state with a predefined drive-motor dynamics mode, permitting the vehicle to drive off at the predetermined pick-up time.

47. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more vehicle components includes a ride-adjustment device operated, as a function of the predetermined pick-up time, in such a way that, as one of the one or more predetermined states, the vehicle has a predefined adjusted ride.

48. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more vehicle components includes an electronic stability program operated, as a function of the predetermined pick-up time, in such a way that, as one of the one or more predetermined states, the vehicle has a switched-on or a switched-off electronic stability program.

49. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more vehicle components includes a front-passenger-side airbag operated, as a function of the predetermined pick-up time, in such a way that, as one of the one or more predetermined states, the vehicle has an activated or a deactivated front-passenger-side airbag.

50. The method of claim 28, further comprising determining or modifying the predetermined pick-up time based on position data of a mobile device associated with a vehicle user.

51. A system comprising: a control device interfacing with one or more components of a vehicle, wherein the control device is configured to control operation of the one or more components as a function of a predetermined pick-up time of the vehicle at a pick-up position of a parking facility in such a way that the vehicle exhibits one or more predetermined states at the pick-up position at the predetermined pick-up time.

52. The of claim 51 further comprising the one or more vehicle components.

53. A vehicle comprising an apparatus that includes a control device interfacing with one or more components of the vehicle, wherein the control device is configured to control operation of the one or more components as a function of a predetermined pick-up time of the vehicle at a pick-up position of a parking facility in such a way that the vehicle exhibits one or more predetermined states at the pick-up position at the predetermined pick-up time.

54. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which are stored instructions that are executable by a processor and that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising: operating one or more vehicle components of a vehicle as a function of a predetermined pick-up time of the vehicle at a pick-up position of a parking facility in such a way that the vehicle exhibits one or more predetermined states at the pick-up position at the predetermined pick-up time.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method for operating a vehicle, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] FIG. 2 illustrates an apparatus for operating a vehicle, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] FIG. 3 illustrates a system for operating a vehicle, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] FIG. 4 illustrates a vehicle, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method for operating a vehicle, according to an example embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle is in a parking position in a parking facility. That is, the vehicle is thus parked in a parking position in the parking facility. In a step 101, a start signal to start the vehicle, especially to start a drive motor, is transmitted to the vehicle via a communication network.

[0063] In particular, the start signal includes the information as to when the vehicle is to be picked up at a pick-up position of the parking facility. In other words, the start signal thus includes a predetermined pick-up time. As a function of the predetermined pick-up time, the vehicle drives autonomously to the pick-up position in such a way that it arrives punctually at the pick-up position at the predetermined pick-up time. In doing this, for example, traffic in the parking facility, thus, especially traffic density of further vehicles in the parking facility, can be taken along into consideration. In particular, a distance to be covered from the parking position to the pick-up position is taken into account here. Thus, the time the vehicle needs to get from the parking position to the pick-up position is factored in. Accordingly, the vehicle will set off at the right time from the parking position to the pick-up position in order to arrive punctually at the pick-up position at the predetermined pick-up time.

[0064] Based on the predetermined pick-up time, according to a step 103 in the present invention, one or more components of the vehicle are operated in such a way that the vehicle exhibits one or more predetermined states at the pick-up position at the predetermined pick-up time.

[0065] According to a step 105, the vehicle travels from the parking position to the pick-up position.

[0066] Depending on the vehicle components and/or depending on the predetermined pick-up time, the vehicle components are already put into operation at the parking position and/or not until on the trip from the parking position to the pick-up position and/or only after arrival of the vehicle at the pick-up position. Thus, for example, it is expedient that an air-conditioning system and/or an engine-independent heater and/or a vehicle seat heater is/are already switched on at the parking position, so that sufficient time is available to reach the predetermined passenger-compartment temperature and predetermined vehicle seat temperature, respectively, for as a rule, the time the vehicle stands at the pick-up position is too short to be able to reach the predetermined temperatures if the vehicle seat heaters and the engine-independent heater and the air-conditioning system are first switched on at the pick-up position.

[0067] However, it is usually sufficient if the adjustment devices do not adjust their corresponding elements, thus, for example, the steering wheel, mirrors or seats, until after arrival or at least not until on the trip from the parking position to the pick-up position, for these adjustments normally require only a short time, e.g., a maximum of one minute.

[0068] FIG. 2 shows an apparatus 201 for operating a vehicle.

[0069] Apparatus 201 includes a control device for controlling one or more vehicle components as a function of a predetermined pick-up time of the vehicle at a pick-up position of a parking facility in such a way that the vehicle exhibits one or more predetermined states at the pick-up position at the predetermined pick-up time.

[0070] According to one specific embodiment, apparatus 201 includes a communication interface which is designed to receive a start signal and/or a predetermined pick-up time via a communication network.

[0071] According to one specific embodiment, apparatus 201 includes a processor which is designed, based on position data of a terminal, particularly a mobile terminal, of a vehicle user, to ascertain and/or to check a predetermined pick-up time in order to ascertain a new pick-up time as the predetermined pick-up time based on the checking.

[0072] According to one specific embodiment, the communication interface is designed to receive position data of a terminal, especially a mobile terminal, of a vehicle user.

[0073] According to one specific embodiment, the mobile terminal is a cell phone, e.g., a smartphone.

[0074] FIG. 3 shows a system 301 for operating a vehicle.

[0075] System 301 includes a plurality of vehicle components 303 and apparatus 201 of FIG. 2. In a specific embodiment not shown, only one vehicle component 303 is provided.

[0076] FIG. 4 shows a vehicle 401. For example, vehicle 401 includes apparatus 201 of FIG. 2 or system 301 of FIG. 3, which, for the sake of the overall view, are not drawn in in FIG. 4.

[0077] Thus, in summary, the invention provides an efficient concept, based on which, certain comfort aspects can be made available individually or in any possible combination to a driver or passengers of a vehicle. In particular, this is accomplished just in time at the predetermined pick-up time, thus, when the driver or the passengers want to pick up the vehicle at the pick-up position. Examples of such comfort aspects are as follows.

[0078] A passenger compartment is heated in advance to a preset temperature, e.g., with the aid of an engine-independent heater and/or an air-conditioning system.

[0079] For instance, one or more vehicle seats are preheated by one or more seat heaters to a preset temperature.

[0080] For example, one or more vehicle windows are not steamed up and/or iced, thus, in particular, are at least partially defrosted or at least partially de-fogged. In particular, this is accomplished with the aid of one or more window heaters. Notably, this is accomplished by an air flow that, for example, can be adjusted with the aid of an engine-independent heater and/or an air-conditioning system, this air flow preferably being directed toward the windows.

[0081] For example, traffic news, thus, in general, traffic information, e.g., present and/or future traffic information, is up-to-date, that is, is current, for in the case of known radios or navigation devices, it is generally necessary to wait for a time until they have downloaded the current information or the future information. In other words, in the case of today's vehicles, normally the radio and/or the navigation device must therefore already be switched on for a time.

[0082] For example, a navigation device has already calculated a desired and/or communicated route. For instance, the navigation device informs the driver about the route; in particular, the navigation device informs the driver about obstructions in the route.

[0083] According to one specific embodiment, the navigation device receives the desired destination position via the communication network, and calculates or determines a route to the destination position based on the destination position. In other words, here, for example, the driver communicates to the navigation device a destination to be driven to, so that the navigation device calculates the route to that place.

[0084] In one specific embodiment, the navigation device receives a route to the destination position via the communication network. In particular, this yields the technical advantage that the navigation device itself no longer has to calculate a route. It may use the transmitted route for the navigation. That is, here, for example, a terminal, especially a mobile terminal, of the driver is able to calculate the route, and after calculating it, transmit it to the navigation device via the communication network.

[0085] For example, driver-specific or passenger-specific adjustments (seat, mirror, steering wheel) are already set, thus, preset for the driver or passengers. In this context, the driver specifically is the person who will drive the vehicle away from the pick-up position. For example, a storage device is provided here, which has stored various setting profiles or personal profiles that preset corresponding adjustments of the seats, the mirrors, and/or the steering wheel for various drivers or passengers.

[0086] Preferably one or more vehicle doors is/are able to unlock automatically upon request after the driver (including further drivers or passengers) stands in front of the vehicle when the vehicle is in the pick-up position.

[0087] For example, a trunk opens automatically upon request after the driver (including further drivers or passengers) stands in front of the vehicle when the vehicle is in the pick-up position.

[0088] For example, the vehicle is started and is ready to drive away immediately from the pick-up position.

[0089] According to one specific embodiment, a vehicle door is a trunk door.

[0090] In particular, the present invention is therefore based on the idea, for example, that the vehicle is already started beforehand based on the predetermined pick-up time, thus, when the vehicle must be at the pick-up position or pick-up location, one or more actions, for example one or more of the following example actions, being started or carried out individually or in combination for the desired comfort themes or comfort aspects: [0091] an engine-independent heater and/or an air-conditioning system is/are switched on. [0092] one or more seat heaters are switched on or turned on; [0093] one or more window heaters are switched on or turned on; [0094] a radio device and/or a navigation device is/are turned on or switched on, so that advantageously, they are able to download or do download future and/or current traffic information via a communication network; [0095] the navigation device preprograms itself with a desired transmitted route, especially taking into account the traffic obstructions, and is thus ready for a route guidance; [0096] driver-specific or passenger-specific settings are adjusted at the seat, steering wheel, and/or mirrors for the desired transmitted driver and possibly also for the front-seat passengers or further vehicle occupants; [0097] one or more actions relating to the unlocking of the vehicle doors, e.g., the trunk, initiated or carried out at the pick-up position, for example, the unlocking only being carried out if the driver is actually at the vehicle, i.e., in response to positive identification or authorization, for example, where the authorization can be effected by an identification and an exchange with a mobile terminal or mobile device and/or a key system of the vehicle; [0098] after the driver has gotten into the vehicle, the route together with the any existing traffic obstructions are communicated to the driver immediately, e.g., with the aid of a human-machine interface; and [0099] the vehicle is already started at the pick-up position at the predetermined pick-up time, so that a driver is able to start or drive off immediately.