Computer program, communication circuit, vehicle, trailer, and methods for communication between a vehicle and a trailer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12134290-B2
Application number	US-202217806525-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2022
Priority date	Jun 16, 2021
Publication date	Nov 5, 2024
Grant date	Nov 5, 2024

Abstract

A computer program, a communication circuit, a transportation vehicle, a trailer, and methods for communication between a transportation vehicle and a trailer. The method for the transportation vehicle includes receiving a message from one or more traffic participants, determining whether the respective traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle using the message, and associating the message to the trailer in response to determining that the respective traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A communication circuit comprising:
one or more interfaces to communicate in a communication network; and
a data processing circuit to control the one or more interfaces,
wherein the data processing circuit is configured to perform a method for a transportation vehicle and for communicating with a trailer via the one or more interfaces, the method comprising:
receiving a message from one or more traffic participants;
determining whether the respective traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle based on the message; and
associating the message to the trailer in response to determining that the respective traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle,
wherein the message indicates a motion and/or a position of the respective traffic participant,
wherein determining whether the traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle comprises determining whether the respective traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle based on a comparison of the motion and/or position of the transportation vehicle and the traffic participant using the message,
wherein the trailer is provided with a request via a wired connection between the transportation vehicle and the trailer,
wherein determination of whether the traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle comprises determination of whether the message was communicated in response to the request, and
wherein association the message to the trailer comprises associating the message to the trailer in response to the message being communicated in response to the request.

2. The communication circuit of claim 1 , wherein the message associated with the trailer is used for a trailer assist system of the transportation vehicle.

3. The communication circuit of claim 1 , wherein determination whether the message was communicated in response to the request comprises determination of whether the message is indicative of the request and/or whether the message was communicated within a predetermined time period after providing the request.

4. The communication circuit of claim 3 , wherein the request is indicative of information on the actuation of a control element of the transportation vehicle, and wherein determining whether the message is indicative of the request comprises determining whether the message is indicative of the information on the actuation.

5. A transportation vehicle comprising a communication circuit comprising:
one or more interfaces to communicate in a communication network; and
a data processing circuit to control the one or more interfaces,
wherein the data processing circuit is configured to perform a method for a transportation vehicle and for communicating with a trailer via the one or more interfaces, the method comprising:
receiving a message from one or more traffic participants;
determining whether the respective traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle based on the message; and
associating the message to the trailer in response to determining that the respective traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle,
wherein the message indicates a motion and/or a position of the respective traffic participant,
wherein determining whether the traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle comprises determining whether the respective traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle based on a comparison of the motion and/or position of the transportation vehicle and the traffic participant using the message,
wherein the trailer is provided with a request via a wired connection between the transportation vehicle and the trailer,
wherein determination of whether the traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle comprises determination of whether the message was communicated in response to the request, and
wherein association the message to the trailer comprises associating the message to the trailer in response to the message being communicated in response to the request.

6. A method for a transportation vehicle and for communicating with a trailer, the method comprising:
receiving a message from one or more traffic participants;
determining whether the respective traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle based on the message;
associating the message to the trailer in response to determining that the respective traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle, wherein the message indicates a motion and/or a position of the respective traffic participant, wherein determining whether the traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle comprises determining whether the respective traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle based on a comparison of the motion and/or position of the transportation vehicle and the traffic participant using the message; and
providing the trailer with a request via a wired connection between the transportation vehicle and the trailer, wherein determining whether the traffic participant is attached to the transportation vehicle comprises determining whether the message was communicated in response to the request, and wherein associating the message to the trailer comprises associating the message to the trailer in response to the message being communicated in response to the request.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising using the message associated with the trailer for a trailer assist system of the transportation vehicle.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein determining whether the message was communicated in response to the request comprises determining whether the message is indicative of the request and/or whether the message was communicated within a predetermined time period after providing the request.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the request is indicative of information on the actuation of a control element of the transportation vehicle, and wherein determining whether the message is indicative of the request comprises determining whether the message is indicative of the information on the actuation.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium including a computer program having a program code for performing the method of claim 6 , when the computer program is executed on a computer, a processor, or a programmable hardware component.

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Klomp Sven
• Hüger Philipp
• Frerk Steffen
• Günther Hendrik-Jörn

Classifications

• B60D1/62 Primary

  involving supply lines, electric circuits or the like · CPC title

• H04W4/46

  for vehicle-to-vehicle communication [V2V] · CPC title

• H04W4/40

  for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P] · CPC title

• H04W4/48 Primary

  for in-vehicle communication · CPC title

• H04W4/12 Primary

  Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements · CPC title