Process for delivering an order to a semiautonomous motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11989683-B2
Application number	US-202318119138-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2023
Priority date	Jul 16, 2019
Publication date	May 21, 2024
Grant date	May 21, 2024

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

What is claimed:

1. A method for operating an at least semiautonomous motor vehicle, in which an ordering function has been activated, comprising:
obtaining provider information, via the ordering function, from potential providers that offer delivery of an order of the ordering function via a mobile delivery system to a predefined area on at least one determined route;
determining, for each of the potential providers, coordinates and a time for an intersection of the motor vehicle with the mobile delivery system for the at least one determined route using current traffic condition criteria and planning criteria;
displaying the obtained provider information together with respective determined coordinates and time for the intersection;
activating an ordering option to place a delivery order with a potential provider, based on the displayed provider information; and
activating an at least semiautonomous guidance of the motor vehicle to the intersection with the mobile delivery system.

2. The method 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 method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a respective ordering probability using order behavior criteria on the obtained provider information, and estimating the probability of an order being successfully fulfilled with the determined potential providers.

4. The method 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 method 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 method according to claim 3 , further comprising storing the ordering behavior criteria in an occupant profile linked to the occupant of the motor vehicle.

7. The method 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 method according to claim 1 , wherein activating the ordering option comprises:
transmitting a query signal to the at least one potential provider to determine 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 method 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. A system for operating an at least semiautonomous motor vehicle, in which an ordering function has been activated, comprising:
a memory; and
a control unit, coupled to the memory, wherein the control unit and memory are configured to
obtain provider information, via the ordering function, from potential providers that offer delivery of an order of the ordering function via a mobile delivery system to a predefined area on at least one determined route;
determine, for each of the potential providers, coordinates and a time for an intersection of the motor vehicle with the mobile delivery system for the at least one determined route using current traffic condition criteria and planning criteria;
display the obtained provider information together with respective determined coordinates and time for the intersection;
activate an ordering option to place a delivery order with a potential provider, based on the displayed provider information; and
activate an at least semiautonomous guidance of the motor vehicle to the intersection with the mobile delivery system.

11. The system according to claim 10 , 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.

12. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the control unit and memory are configured to:
determine a respective ordering probability using order behavior criteria on the obtained provider information, and estimate the probability of an order being successfully fulfilled with the determined potential providers.

13. The system according to claim 12 , 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.

14. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the control unit and memory are configured to determine the ordering probability 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.

15. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the control unit and memory are configured to store the ordering behavior criteria in an occupant profile linked to the occupant of the motor vehicle.

16. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the control unit and memory are configured to determine that a predefined driving action has been executed by the motor vehicle, and activate the ordering option in response thereto.

17. The system according to claim 10 , wherein activating the ordering option comprises:
transmitting a query signal to the at least one potential provider to determine 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.

18. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the provider information comprises current order time data, continuously generated using the traffic condition and planning criteria, and indicating the late

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Bader Viktor

Classifications

• G06Q10/08355 Primary

  Routing methods · CPC title

• B60W60/00256

  Delivery operations · CPC title

• G01C21/3438

  Rendezvous; Ride sharing · CPC title

• G05D1/0212

  with means for defining a desired trajectory (involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287) · CPC title

• G06Q10/0832

  Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods · CPC title