Process for delivering an order to a semiautonomous motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11625674-B2
Application number	US-202016927806-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2020
Priority date	Jul 16, 2019
Publication date	Apr 11, 2023
Grant date	Apr 11, 2023

Abstract

Technologies and techniques for delivering an order to an at least semiautonomous motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle. If an ordering function is activated, provider information is obtained from potential providers that offer delivery of an order by means of a mobile delivery system within a predefined area on a determined route from a current position of the motor vehicle to a destination. Coordinates and a time for a meeting of the motor vehicle with the mobile delivery system are determined for each of the potential providers that have been determined using traffic condition and planning criteria, and a corresponding ordering option that can be activated is provided. As soon as the ordering option is activated, the motor vehicle is at least semiautonomously driven to the determined meeting.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A process for operating an at least semiautonomous motor vehicle, comprising:
determining an ordering function has been activated in the motor vehicle;
establishing a current position and destination of the motor vehicle;
determining at least one optimized route from the established current position to the established destination;
obtaining provider information, via an ordering function, from potential providers that offer delivery of the order via a mobile delivery system to a predefined area on the at least one determined route;
for each of the potential providers:
determining coordinates and a time for an intersection of the motor vehicle with the mobile delivery system using current traffic condition criteria comprising current traffic conditions, and planning criteria, and
displaying the obtained provider information and the determined coordinates and the determined time for the meeting on a display panel in the motor vehicle;

activating an ordering option to place a delivery order with a potential provider; and
activating an at least semiautonomous guidance of the motor vehicle to the intersection with the mobile delivery system.

2. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising:
after activating the ordering option, transmitting (i) ordering data describing the delivery order for the order, and (ii) the determined coordinates and determined time for the intersecting of the motor vehicle with the mobile delivery system, to an external processor, for determining a delivery route and a delivery time for the mobile delivery system for the determined intersecting using delivery planning criteria, and transmitting the determined delivery route and the determined delivery time to the mobile delivery system.

3. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising:
if provider information is obtained from a plurality of potential providers, determining a respective ordering probability using order behavior criteria on the obtained provider information, estimating the probability of an order being successfully fulfilled with the determined potential providers.

4. The process according to claim 3 , wherein the ordering behavior criteria comprises at least one of:
a maximum time for the delivery of the order;
a maximum price for the order;
a maximum delay in arriving at the destination by driving to the determined coordinates for the meeting;
a minimum average customer rating for the potential providers; and/or
stored ordering behavior data for the occupant.

5. The process according to claim 3 , wherein the ordering probability is determined using ordering preference criteria, and, if the determined ordering probability is greater than a predefined minimum limit probability, the ordering function is provided for activation in the motor vehicle.

6. The process according to claim 3 , further comprising storing the ordering behavior criteria in an occupant profile linked to the occupant of the motor vehicle, which provides the ordering option.

7. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising determining that a predefined driving action has been executed by the motor vehicle, and activating the ordering option in response thereto.

8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein activating the ordering option comprises:
transmitting a query signal to the at least one potential provider to determine whether the at least one potential provider is able to deliver the order to the determined coordinates and at the determined time for the intersection, and
receiving a response signal confirming the query signal; and
activating the ordering option in response thereto.

9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the provider information comprises current order time data, continuously generated using the traffic condition and planning criteria, and indicating the latest possible time for activating the ordering option in order to place the order such that it can be delivered to the determined coordinates and at the determined time for the intersection.

10. The process according to claim 1 , wherein after the ordering option is activated, the ordering option is continuously checked using realization criteria whether the delivery of the order to the determined coordinates and at the determined time for the intersection can still be achieved, and wherein, if it has been determined that the delivery of the order to the determined coordinates and at the determined time for the meeting cannot be achieved, generating alternative coordinates and/or an alternative time for an alternative meeting using the traffic condition and planning criteria.

11. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising generating a binding order for the delivery of the order after the ordering option is activated.

12. The process according to claim 11 , further comprising displaying an order confirmation option in the motor vehicle after the ordering option has been activated, and transmitting the binding order for delivery to a corresponding provider.

13. A system for an at least semiautonomous motor vehicle, comprising:
a memory; and
a control unit, coupled to the memory, wherein the control unit and memory are configured to
determine an ordering function has been activated in the motor vehicle;
establish a current position and destination of the motor vehicle;
determine at least one optimized route from the established current position to the established destination;
obtain provider information, via an ordering function, from potential providers that offer delivery of the order via a mobile delivery system to a predefined area on the at least one determined route;
for each of the potential providers:
determine coordinates and a time for an intersection of the motor vehicle with the mobile delivery system using current traffic condition criteria comprising current traffic conditions, and planning criteria, and
display the obtained provider information and the determined coordinates and the determined time for the meeting on a display panel in the motor vehicle;

activate an ordering option to place a delivery order with a potential provider; and
activate an at least semiautonomous guidance of the motor vehicle to the intersection with the mobile delivery system.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the control unit and memory are configured to:
after activating the ordering option, transmit (i) ordering data describing the delivery order for the order, and (ii) the determined coordinates and determined time for the intersecting of the motor vehicle with the mobile delivery system, to an external processor, for determining a delivery route and a delivery time for the mobile delivery system for the determined intersecting using delivery planning criteria, and transmit the determined delivery route and the determined delivery time to the mobile delivery system.

15. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the control unit and memory are configured to:
if provider information is obtained from a plurality of potential providers, determine a respective ordering probability using order behavior criteria on the obtained provider information, estimating the probability of an order being successfully fulfilled with the determined potential providers.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the ordering behavior criteria comprises at least one of:
a maximum time for the delivery of the order;
a maximum price for the order;
a maximum delay in arriving at the destination by driving to the determined coordinates for the meeting;
a minimum

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Bader Viktor

Classifications

• G01C21/3438

  Rendezvous; Ride sharing · CPC title

• B60W2554/406

  Traffic density · CPC title

• B60W60/00256

  Delivery operations · CPC title

• G06Q10/083 Primary

  Shipping · CPC title

• G08G1/0133

  for classifying traffic situation · CPC title