EP1638808B1 - Vehicle-based device for transmitting messages by means of a unit for determining a route toll and associated method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus in a vehicle ( 1 ) for producing and wirelessly transmitting messages to vehicles ( 11 ) which are set up to receive such messages, having a communication means ( 2 ) and activation means ( 3 ), where activation by the activation means ( 3 ) is used to transmit messages from the communication means ( 2 ) which comprise at least information about the position and speed of the vehicle ( 1 ). In line with the invention, the communication means ( 2 ) is in the form of part of a unit ( 5 ) in the vehicle for determining road tolls, the activation means ( 3 ) is in the form of a direction-of-travel indicator operating element, and the messages are sent to the vehicles ( 11 ) from the communication means ( 2 ) using a control center ( 6 ) which is set up to manage road tolls.

Description

The invention relates to a device in a vehicle for generating and wireless emission of messages to other vehicles, wherein the vehicle comprises a communication means and activating means, by means of activation by the activating means messages from the communication means are emitted, the messages at least information about the position and the Speed of the vehicle. Such a device can be used, for example, for the radio-based hazard warning of the driver of a vehicle when approaching the danger spot. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for vehicle-side generation and wireless transmission of messages to other equipped to receive such messages vehicles according to the preamble of claim 11.

A generic device is set forth by DE 100 075 73 C1.

The object of the invention is to propose a generic device, which can be used quickly and easily for the exchange of messages between vehicles while reliably ensuring the supply of vehicles with messages. It is also an object of the invention to provide an associated method.

The object is achieved in the device by the features of patent claim 1 and in the method by the features of claim 11. The subclaims relate to advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention.

According to the invention, the communication means is embodied as part of an on-vehicle unit for determining tolls, the messages being sent by the means of communication to other vehicles using a center dedicated to managing tolls, and the activator being a turn signal actuator. In other words, the invention proposes to carry out the device for the exchange of messages between vehicles in the context of a system for determining tolls, wherein the message exchange on the provided in such a system center runs, and wherein the vehicle-side activating means as vehicle already existing direction indicator actuator is executed.

Through the introduction of the 'truck toll', a system for determining road tolls, at least for commercial vehicles, is available across the board. By very minor modifications, this existing system is usable for the present invention. Such a system for determining tolls for 'toll section' sections of a road network, such as highways (toll roads hereinafter called) is described in DE 43 04 838 C2. The vehicle-side part of this system comprises all the components required according to the invention. Thus, in this system, a communication means for data exchange with a set up for the management of tolls center is provided to control billing operations for the traveled toll roads. Furthermore, the vehicle-side part comprises means for determining the position of the vehicle, for example a receiver for a satellite-based Positioning system (for example 'GPS', 'Glonass' or 'Galileo') for determining which route the vehicle travels. Such a position determining means can additionally be used to determine the speed of the vehicle. Furthermore, such a vehicle-side system comprises computing means for carrying out the generation and activation of messages.

The information covered by the messages generated according to the invention is the position and speed of the vehicle. Such messages are already used by default by a system for determining tolls, for control or for billing purposes when entering or leaving toll roads. For example, charges incurred are determined such that a message is sent from the vehicle to the center that includes location-related information about entering and leaving toll roads. Such messages can be converted by slight modifications into messages according to the invention. For this purpose, only a modified activation (to generate the messages) is necessary, the remaining steps such as generation and transmission of the message can be used unchanged. The mechanism of generating and transmitting a position-related message to the center is thus particularly easy to use by the invention, which allows a very low cost exchange of messages between vehicles. In this case, the information about the speed of the vehicle is provided, for example, by the position-determining means or via a data-related speed sensor of the vehicle, wherein the speed may also include a time course and / or the direction of travel of the vehicle.

The invention better utilizes a system for determining tolls and improves acceptance by generating messages. By using a turn signal actuator as the activating means is ensured according to the invention that the driver of the vehicle must make any additional handles. Rather, in certain situations, a driver performs 'default' actuation as the initiator of activation.

Furthermore, a reliable supply of vehicles with messages is ensured by the inventive use of the center. Conventionally, the exchange of messages between vehicles is made via a short-range communication means. In this case, a limitation by the physical conditions of this means of communication (propagation of the message frequency used) is given, a targeted addressing of (arbitrarily localized) vehicle groups is not possible. By contrast, the use of a central station such a targeted addressing of vehicles or vehicle groups is possible. In addition, the use of the control panel enables centralized and simple processing of received messages. For example, it can be provided that a message (except breakdown messages) is first confirmed by a second vehicle according to the invention before it is made available to other vehicles by the center. This allows qualitatively very high-quality messages. Furthermore, the use of the central office makes it possible to use high-performance computer systems with extensive databases, which is not possible in the vehicle, for example for further processing of the messages. Also, a particularly simple assignment of messages to driving lanes or directions of travel is possible, for example by a calculation process (for example, from at least two messages with different positions).

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the direction indicator actuator is designed as a hazard warning lights switch. Thus, the invention is feasible by a simple data link between the hazard warning lights switch and the on-board part of the system for determining tolls. A hazard warning lights switch is usually operated by the driver of a vehicle when the vehicle is approaching the end of a traffic jam and therefore has to decelerate conditionally. Further, a hazard warning lights switch is usually operated by the driver when a vehicle is stalled or when a vehicle is traveling particularly slowly compared to the other vehicles, such as a team or a heavy commercial vehicle on a slope. By operating in such critical or potentially critical situations usual operation of the driver of a vehicle according to the invention automatically sends a message. The driver of the vehicle does not have to carry out cumbersome, additional operations.

A distinction of the cause of a message generated by the hazard warning lights switch according to the invention can be achieved in a simple manner by the speed of the generating vehicle. For example, the vehicle is nearing the end of a jam when the speed is greatly reduced and the hazard lights are turned on. A breakdown vehicle has a speed of zero. At a uniformly low speed, a vehicle with the hazard warning lights on, for example, moves particularly slowly compared to other vehicles. In addition, it can be determined by a high-precision position information, for example, whether the vehicle is on a lane in the "traffic jam" or on the lane in the "breakdown case". In addition, the duration of the switched hazard warning lights and / or information from a digital road map (for example, whether at the position of the message, a decreasing the speed of the vehicle gradient) is used in distinguishing the cause of the generated message. A corresponding determination of the cause of a message is foreseeable both in the vehicle and in the center, of course, a combination of both options is possible.

In a further, particularly advantageous embodiment, it is provided to carry out the direction indicator actuating element as a turn signal switch. A turn signal switch is usually operated when initiating or ending an overtaking operation or when turning off the road. Using this information, for example, a corresponding overtaking of the reporting vehicle or a corresponding departure of the reporting vehicle from the road can be determined in the center. For example, in the event that the vehicle is a commercial vehicle, be closed at the initiation of the overtaking process on a resulting at least short-term disturbance in the fast lane. When detecting a departure of the vehicle from the road is, for example, using a digital road map in the vehicle and / or in the center of the position of this departure detectable. If this position corresponds to the entrance to a rest area, the occupation of the rest area with vehicles can be determined using the corresponding message, for example by adding up all the relevant messages. If the position corresponds, for example, to a motorway exit, it is possible, for example, to determine the loading of a route following the exit using the corresponding messages.

Advantageously, the vehicles set up to receive the messages according to the invention are also equipped with a vehicle-side unit for determining tolls. This makes it possible to use the messages according to the invention in these vehicles without further installations by merely using an already existing unit for determining tolls in the vehicle.

The received messages are output visually, acoustically and / or haptically in the vehicle. An optical output is for example a display. This display may be provided as part of the road user charge determination unit be and / or formed as a separate display in the vehicle. An acoustic output of received messages is realized, for example, by a voice output. In this case, an indication regarding the cause of the generation of a received message can be provided. An example of an optical output is a flashing icon on the position encompassed by the received message on the display of the navigation system of the receiving vehicle. An example of an acoustic output is an output 'The rest area Albhöhe is fully occupied' via the audio system of the message receiving vehicle.

It is advantageously proposed that means for outputting collective traffic information can additionally be activated by the center. Such means are accessed using data determined at the central office from the messages received from vehicles. Controllable means for outputting collective traffic information are, for example, dynamic traffic signs (e.g., gantries) or also collective wireless information (e.g., 'cell broadcast' in a cellular network). This also allows drivers of vehicles that do not include the possibility of receiving the messages generated according to the invention to use such messages.

The device according to the invention is easily realizable if the communication means is a mobile telephone. The use of a mobile phone, for example according to the GSM or UMTS standard, ensures an almost nationwide use of the invention, since mobile phones can be used practically everywhere due to the widespread use of corresponding mobile radio networks.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, an online billing option for sent and / or received messages is provided. For example, a premium for the driver of a vehicle with an inventive Device be provided if the latter agrees that messages according to the invention are sent from his device. Alternatively or additionally, it is provided that the driver of a vehicle has to pay a corresponding fee for a received message.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to a drawing which shows schematically the structure of the device according to the invention. FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 1 with a vehicle-side unit 5 for determining tolls, the unit 5 comprising a communication means 2. Also shown are activating means 3 in the vehicle 1. Also shown are a central station 6 for managing tolls with a digital road map 7 and controlled collective traffic information means 8 and other vehicles 11 arranged to receive messages according to the invention.

The vehicle-side unit 5 of the vehicle 1 for determining tolls is data technically connected to two activating means 3 designed as direction indicator actuators. A first direction indicator actuator 3 is designed as a hazard warning switch and a second direction indicator actuator 3 is designed as a turn signal switch. The direction indicator actuators 3 are operated by the driver of the vehicle 1 in the usual way. For example, the hazard warning switch 3 is operated by the driver of the vehicle 1 when he has a breakdown and has to keep on the shoulder of the highway or when the vehicle is approaching a jam end and must decelerate sharply. By such, usually made by the driver of the vehicle 1 operation according to the invention automatically generates a message and sent out. For this purpose, such a message is generated using the vehicle-side unit 5 for determining road tolls, which at least information about the position and the speed of the vehicle 1 includes. This information is calculated in the usual way by a unit for determining tolls. This calculation and generation of a message is already performed by unit 5 by default, to determine the applicable toll for a vehicle used by the vehicle paid section of road toll. Thus, a common mechanism performed by the unit 5 for generating messages is converted to generate messages according to the invention. For this purpose, except for a data connection of the direction indicator actuators 3 with the unit 5 no further intervention on the vehicle 1 is necessary. Only slight changes in the control functions of the unit 5 (software changes) are still necessary in order to use a vehicle-side unit 5 for determining road use charges according to the invention. The activation is thus not effected by entering or leaving a toll road section, but by the driver side activation of a turn signal actuator 3.

The generated messages are sent wirelessly via a mobile phone 2 to a central station 6 set up to manage tolls. Even in this center only minor modifications are needed. Thus, the messages generated according to the invention are identified and processed separately from the usability fee related messages. If more than one activation means 3 is provided, the messages generated by the vehicle 1 include additional information that allows to determine from which activation means 3 the generated message originates.

The central station 6 sends the received messages to vehicles configured to receive such messages 11. The central station 6 merely functions as a 'relay station' in which it uses the mobile radio network to distribute such messages. As a result, a very targeted and location-specific assignment of messages is possible. For example, such Messages sent out only to vehicles 11, which are within a certain area, for example, just before a traffic jam. Furthermore, it may be provided to deliver these messages only to vehicles 11, which have paid a special fee and / or also have a unit 5 for determining tolls, which is set up according to the invention and have also agreed to the shipment of messages according to the invention. For processing such messages, the center 6 also uses a digital road map. This allows, for example, a 'right' flashing as a departure from the highway to recognize a rest area. As a result, the occupancy of a rest area can be determined.

It is further provided that the center 6 controls means for outputting collective traffic information 8. Such means are, for example, dynamic variable message signs, which are attached to gantries over the highway or a 'cell broadcast' in a mobile network. Hereby, the use of messages generated according to the invention is also possible for vehicles 11 which do not have their own device for receiving and displaying such messages.

The device according to the invention is used in a fleet of vehicles, for example heavy commercial vehicles from 12 tons, which have a unit 5 for determining tolls. As a result, a particularly quick and easy use of the invention is possible by only minor modifications in a respective vehicle 1, 11, to the unit 5 and to the center 6 for managing the tolls. It is immediately achieved a large area coverage. Alternatively or additionally, it is provided that the messages can also be received by vehicles 11 which have no unit 5. These are, for example, commercial vehicles without a unit 5 for determining road tolls and / or cars provided to equip these vehicles with a unit which is set up only to receive the messages generated according to the invention. These received messages are then also output visually, acoustically and / or haptically in the vehicle.

The device according to the invention makes it possible to provide complete coverage of vehicles which are set up for the wireless emission of messages. As a result, a high message quality is achievable, since both a high area coverage and due to the large number of vehicles equipped a relatively high frequency is that an equipped vehicle detects, for example, a tail end.

Since the messages generated are not sent immediately from the vehicle 1 to other vehicles 11, but a central 6 is 'interposed', very high quality messages can be generated. For this purpose, for example, provided in the center 6 an incoming message, which describes a jam end, not immediately send out again, but first to wait for another message for confirmation. If such a message arrives, for example, within a predefinable period of time, and thus the first. Message is confirmed, sends the central station 6 to the vehicles 11, the message about the specific end of jam. This avoids random events leading to congestion. Furthermore, the control center 6 allows post-processing of received messages. For example, messages relating to turning to a rest stop on a highway can be summed up. In this way, the occupancy of a rest area can be determined. By using the center 6, it is also possible to price the generated high-quality messages. For this example, the billing system can be used, which is also used to determine the tolls.

Since the road user charge determination unit is currently intended only for use on commercial vehicles, the effect of the invention will be further enhanced. Because commercial vehicles have a different driving behavior and a different driving dynamics than cars. Commercial vehicles, for example, do not overtake as often as passenger cars. If, on the other hand, a commercial vehicle makes an overtaking maneuver, this often constitutes a disruption, especially in dense traffic. The almost nationwide equipping of commercial vehicles with the road user charge determination unit 5 is thus a significant trigger Disturbances in flowing traffic 'nationwide' monitored. This makes it possible to use the messages generated according to the invention preferably also for further purposes, for example for estimating traffic collapsing. Such information can then be forwarded, for example, to the police or to broadcasters.

Furthermore, it can be provided that not every message received from the center is forwarded to other vehicles. For example, in the event of conflicting messages (e.g., 'left' blinking in the left lane), forwarding may be disregarded. Alternatively or additionally, provision is made for forwarding special messages only to selected receivers (for example a breakdown message only to a breakdown center).

Finally, it should be noted that the invention is universally applicable, i. both on highways and federal highways as well as in metropolitan areas.

Claims (13)

1. Apparatus in a vehicle (1) for producing and wirelessly transmitting messages to vehicles (11) which are set up to receive such messages, having a communication means (2) and activation means (3), where activation by the activation means (3) is used to transmit messages from the communication means (2) which comprise at least information about the position and speed of the vehicle (1),
   characterized
   in that the communication means (2) is in the form of part of a unit (5) in the vehicle for determining road tolls, the messages being sent to the vehicles (11) from the communication means (2) using a control centre (6) which is set up to manage road tolls, and the activation means (3) is in the form of a direction-of-travel indicator operating element.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1,
   characterized
   in that the direction-of-travel indicator operating element is in the form of a hazard warning system switch and/or in the form of a direction indicator switch.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2,
   characterized
   in that the messages activated by the hazard warning system switch are used in the control centre (6) to determine the end of a tailback and/or to detect a slow-moving vehicle (1) and/or to identify a broken-down vehicle (1).
4. Apparatus according to Claim 2,
   characterized
   in that the messages activated by the direction indicator switch are used in the control centre (6) to detect an overtaking operation by the vehicle (1) and/or to determine the use of a parking place.
5. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 4,
   characterized
   in that the control centre (6) contains a digital road map (7).
6. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 5,
   characterized
   in that some or all of the vehicles (11) which are set up to receive the messages likewise comprise a unit (5) in the vehicle for determining road tolls.
7. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
   characterized
   in that received messages can be output in the vehicle (1, 11) visually, audibly and/or haptically.
8. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 7,
   characterized
   in that the control centre (6) can actuate means (8) for outputting collective traffic information.
9. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 8,
   characterized
   in that the communication means (2) is a mobile telephone.
10. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 9,
    characterized
    in that an online billing facility for sent and/or received messages is provided.
11. Method for producing messages in a vehicle and wirelessly transmitting them to further vehicles (11) which are set up to receive such messages, where activation by the driver of the vehicle (1) is followed by transmission of the message which comprises at least information about the position and speed of the vehicle (1),
    characterized
    in that the message is sent automatically from a unit (5) in the vehicle for determining road tolls to a control centre (6) which is set up to manage road tolls after the driver of the vehicle (1) has activated a direction-of-travel indicator operating element (3), with the control centre (6) forwarding a message to the vehicles (11) after said message has been received.
12. Method according to Claim 11,
    characterized
    in that the control centre (6) forwards a message to the vehicles (11) only after at least one further message of the same type has been received.
13. Method according to Claim 11 or 12,
    characterized
    in that provision is made for received messages to be forwarded in the control centre (6).

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