WO2014168553A1

WO2014168553A1 - Route selection in navigation unit

Info

Publication number: WO2014168553A1
Application number: PCT/SE2014/050385
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonas Norberg; Adeliina AHO TARKKA; Kalle Fagerberg; Jonny Johansson; Anders Wikman
Original assignee: Scania Cv Ab
Priority date: 2013-04-08
Filing date: 2014-03-31
Publication date: 2014-10-16
Also published as: EP2984452A4; SE537714C2; SE1350432A1; EP2984452A1

Abstract

A navigation unit (120), an analysis unit (150) and methods (400, 600) in a vehicle (100) for the planning of a route (220) for the vehicle (100) when the vehicle (100) has been affected by a limitation in its ability to progress. The method (400) comprises the reception (401) of a request for a route (220) with a route property (210), from an analysis unit (150) in the vehicle (100), selection (402) of a route (220) for the vehicle (100) that possesses the route property (210) that has been received, and presentation (403) of the selected (402) route (220) on a display (130), such that the driver is given the possibility to choose this route (220), or to reject it and instead continue along the original route.

Description

ROUTE SELECTION IN NAVIGATION UNIT

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to a navigation unit, an analysis unit, and methods in these units, in a vehicle. To be more precise, the invention concerns the planning of routes for the vehicle.

BACKGROUND

In order to plan a course or a route for a vehicle, a navigational support is often available in the form of a navigation system integral to the vehicle. Information is present in the navigation system that is important for the planning of a route in the future. This information can comprise different factors related to the vehicle that may influence the choice of route, for example the total weight of the vehicle including its load, and the height of the vehicle. This information may, for example, exclude certain courses being used by the vehicle due to limitations in the capacity of these. The route of the vehicle and its destination have been entered into the navigation system.

The term "vehicle" is used in this context to denote, for example, lorries, articulated trucks, open-back trucks, transport vehicles, working trucks, caravans, pick-up vehicles, working vehicles, cars, emergency vehicles, vessels, vans, four- wheel drive vehicles, forwarders, excavators, car, private car, mobile cranes, tank vehicles, motorbikes, bucket chargers, mopeds, scooters, limousines, sports cars, racing cars, radio-equipped cars, lawn mowers, military tanks, snowmobiles, snowcats, terrain-going vehicles, tracked vehicles, tractors, go-carts, buses, combine harvesters, agricultural machines, amphibious vehicles, boats, ferries, ocean-going cruisers, submarines, airplanes, helicopters and other similar motor- driven manned or unmanned transport means, adapted for geographical displacement by land, sea or air. 9

One problem is thai unforeseen events that lead to a limitation of the ability of the vehicle to progress may occur during the driving, which events influence the vehicle and make the route that has been created in the navigation system unsuitable. One example of this can be that the amount or fuel, urea, windscreen washer fluid, oil or similar is low, or it can be predicted that it will become exhausted before a suitable place is reached along the determined route in the navigation system.

Another example is that the vehicle may be subject to a reduction in torque produced by the engine as a consequence of a functional fault of the vehicle. This may make it unsuitable or impossible to follow the route prescribed in the navigation system, which may pass along a hilly section of road.

We can conclude that much remains to be done in order to facilitate the route planning for a vehicle.

SUMMARY it is therefore one purpose of this invention to collect information related to a limitation of the vehicle that has arisen and to create an updated choice of route, based on this information, in order to solve at least one of the problems described above and in this way achieve an improvement in the vehicle. According to a first aspect of the invention, this purpose is achieved by a method in a navigation unit in a vehicle for the planning of a route for the vehicle when the vehicle has been affected by a limitation in its ability to progress. The method comprises the reception of a request for a route with a route property from an analysis unit in the vehicle. The method comprises also the selection of a route for the vehicle that possesses the received route property. Furthermore, the method comprises also the presentation of the selected route on a display, such that the driver is given the possibility of choosing this route, or of rejecting it and continuing instead along the original route. According to a second aspect of the invention, this purpose is achieved by a navigation unit in a vehicle for the planning of a route for the vehicle when the vehicle has been affected by a limitation in its ability to progress. The navigation unit comprises a receiver, arranged to receive a request for a route with a route property from an analysis unit in the vehicle. Furthermore the navigation unit comprises a processor circuit arranged to select a route for the vehicle that possesses the received route property. The navigation unit comprises also a transmitter circuit arranged to transmit information associated with the selected route in order to make the display of the said route on a display possible, such that the driver is given the possibility to select this route or to reject it and continue instead along the original route.

According to a third aspect of the invention, this purpose is achieved by a method in an analysis unit in a vehicle, for participation in the planning of a route for the vehicle in a navigation unit when the vehicle has been affected by a limitation in its ability to progress. The method comprises the reception of a signal that indicates a detected vehicle-related event, from a detector. The method comprises also the determination of a route property required by the received vehicle-related event. Furthermore, the method comprises also the transmission to a navigation unit in the vehicle of a request for a route that possesses the route property that has been determined.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, this purpose is achieved by an analysis unit in a vehicle, for participation in the planning of a route for the vehicle in a navigation unit when the vehicle has been affected by a limitation in its ability to progress. The analysis unit comprises a receiver, arranged to receive a signal that indicates a detected vehicle-related event from a detector in the vehicle. The analysis unit comprises also a processor circuit, arranged to determine a route property required by the vehicle-related event that has been received. Furthermore, the analysis unit comprises also a transmitting circuit, arranged to transmit to a navigation unit in the vehicle a request for a route that possesses the determined route property. By collecting signals that indicate a detected vehicle-related event from one or several sensors or detectors in the vehicle and by determining a property of the route that is required by the vehicle-related event, a route that leads to the destination can be calculated and presented to the driver. The driver can subsequently be given the possibility of choosing the suggested route and continuing the journey along this route. The journey of the vehicle can in this way be optimised, or at least improved, with respect to operating economy such as time and cost, also in the event that unforeseen events occur with the vehicle during the journey, Other advantages and further new distinctive features will be made clear by the following detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the invention:

Figure 1A is an illustration of a vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 B is an illustration that shows an example of a vehicle interior in a vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1C is an overview illustration that shows an example of various units in a vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2A is an illustration that shows an example of how a suggested route is displayed to a driver on a display in a vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2B is an illustration that shows an example of how a suggested route is displayed to a driver on a display in a vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 is a combined signal and flow diagram that illustrates in an overview one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a flow diagram that illustrates a method in a navigation unit according to one embodiment of the invention. s Figure 5 is an illustration of a navigation unit, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 is a flow diagram that illustrates a method in an analysis unit according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 is an illustration of an analysis unit, according to one embodiment of0 the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is defined as methods, a navigation unit and an analysis unit that can be realised in any one of the embodiments described below. This invention5 can, however, be executed in many different forms and it is not to be considered to be limited by the embodiments described here: These embodiments are instead intended to illuminate and illustrate various aspects of the invention.

Further aspects and distinctive features of the invention may be made apparent by the following detailed description when it is reviewed in correlation with the0 attached drawings. The drawings, however, are to be regarded only as examples of various embodiments of the invention and are not to be regarded as limiting for the invention: This is limited solely by the attached independent patent claims. Furthermore, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and are, unless otherwise explicitly stated, intended to illustrate aspects of the invention5 conceptually. Figure 1A shows a vehicle 100 that is travelling in a direction 110 of travel along a route. Inside the vehicle 100, for example inside the driver's cabin, there is a navigation unit 120 and a display 130 that can be connected to the navigation unit 120.

Figure 1 B illustrates one example of the driver's surroundings in the vehicle 100. The navigation unit 120 is present in the vehicle 100, which navigation unit comprises or is connected to the display 130.

The navigation unit 120 has access to information in order to plan a route for the vehicle 100, such as, for example, map information, previous destinations, properties (such as the load classification, type of road, speed limit, etc.) of various sections of road, points of interest (also known as "POIs"), and information about the vehicle that has been previously stored or configured by the driver of the vehicle (or that has, alternatively, been read from detectors or sensors) such as the weight, height, length, width, axle load, the presence of a coupled trailer, hazardous goods, loose goods in the load compartment, and similar. it is possible in this way to avoid roads on which certain vehicles 100, such as, for example, at least one of lorries and caravans are not permitted; narrow streets, and low bridges and funnels. The points of interest (also known as "POIs") may comprise, for example, fuel stations, shops with extended opening hours, lorry- washing facilities and other locations, including such locations as the driver has for various reasons entered into the navigation unit 120 on an earlier occasion.

Figure 1C shows a vehicle 100 schematically. The navigation unit 120 is arranged for communication with an analysis unit 150 in the vehicle 100, This communication may take place over a wireless or wired interface, according to different embodiments. The analysis unit 150 may be located at a freely chosen position in or dose to the vehicle 100. The analysis unit 150 may be constituted by an independent unit, or it may be comprised within another unit. The analysis unit 150 may, for example, be comprised within the navigation unit 120, according to certain embodiments.

The analysis unit 150 is arranged also to receive signals from, or to communicate with, one or several detectors 140. Example of such detectors 140 are fuel level gauges, urea amount gauges, windscreen washer fluid gauges, oil level gauges, fault detectors in the engine, detectors that indicate that a lamp is broken, detectors of brake faults, detectors of tyre pressure, detectors of load securement, dirt indicators, cooling water temperature gauges, detectors of electrical faults, and other similar detectors in, or in connection with the vehicle 100. The analysis unit 150, the detector 140 and the navigation unit 120 can communicate with each other over a wired or a wireless interface.

The wired interface may, for example, be based on any one of the following technologies in the vehicle 100: Controller Area Network (CAN), Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST), Ethernet. According to certain embodiments, the wired interface may, for example, be based on any one of the following technologies: Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Serial RS232, FireWire, Thunderbolt, just to mention some of the possibilities.

The wireless interface may, for example, be based on any one of the following technologies: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Access (CDMA), (CDMA 2000), Time Division Synchronous CDMA (TD-SCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE); Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), as defined by at least one of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards 802.1 1 a, ac, b, g and n, internet Protocol (IP), Bluetooth, and Near Field Communication, (NFC), according to different embodiments.

By the collection of data related to a limitation of the vehicle 100 from the detector 140, it is possible for the analysis unit 150 to formulate a request for a new route for the vehicle 100 at the navigation unit 120, where the new route has a route property that is in accordance with the limitation that has been detected in the vehicle 00. One example of this may be when a reduction in the torque produced is active or will become active within a pre-defined period, such that it may be suitable to choose a route with few or no steep uphill sections. It may be suitable instead to choose a longer route with fewer hills. Another example of this is to use the amount of fuel, urea, etc. as limiting factor, i.e. it is not suitable to take a route on which it has been calculated that the fuel or urea will become fully consumed before there is a suitable place along the route at which it is possible to refill these.

The request for a new route for the vehicle 100 that is transmitted from the analysis unit 150 can be used by the navigation unit 120 to calculate a new route and also to calculate the remaining duration of driving to, for example, a fuel station, if if is a shortage of fuel that is the limiting factor. The route can in this way be modified as any deficiencies in the performance of the vehicle arise, such that the effects of these deficiencies can be eliminated, or at least reduced.

Figure 2A shows a schematic example of the planning of a route for a vehicle 100, illustrated on a display 130. A dashed line specifies the new route 220 that the navigation unit has calculated that the vehicle should take, since the calculation unit 150 has requested a route that has a fuel station, as a consequence of the detector 140 having determined that the fuel is in the process of becoming fully consumed. The navigation unit 120 can then plan for a new route 220 that has a route property 210, in this case a fuel station, which enables the shortage of fuel to be avoided. The driver can in this way receive information about the new route as a consequence of the deficiency of the vehicle 100 that has arisen and the final destination 230 can be reached, in the example illustrated in the drawing, only one new route 220 that has the requested route property 210 is shown. This is, however, only an example. In other examples the navigation unit 120 may calculate instead several new routes 220 that have the requested route property 2 0, and present these to the driver of the vehicle, who can subsequently make a choice. In the case Illustrated in Figure 2A, the driver is given information about the new route in the form of an illustration on a map, but it is possible also, or instead of, to conceive, for example, at least one of spoken instructions that give driving instructions and the presentation of the route in the form of a list, as is illustrated in Figure 2B,

More than one route property 210 along the route 220 may be displayed to the driver in certain embodiments. The driver is in this case given the possibility to, for example, compare the different suggested route properties 210 with each other and to select one of them for an interruption for service of the vehicle, the one that is in closest accordance with the needs of the vehicle or the desires of the driver, or both the needs of the vehicle and the desires of the driver.

Figure 2B shows a schematic example of the planning of a route for the vehicle 100, illustrated on a display 130, where the new route is presented to the driver in text form.

This may be a supplement, or an alternative, to the presentation of the new route 220 that is shown in Figure 2A.

Figure 3 shows an example of how a route 220 can be planned in a navigation unit 120 in the vehicle 100 where the route 220 has a certain route property 210. The combined flow and signal diagram in Figure 3 illustrates a method in 10 steps for the planning of a route 220. It should, however, be observed that the steps 1- 10 described can be carried out in a somewhat different chronological order than that suggested by the numbering, and that certain of the steps can be carried out in parallel with each other, according to different embodiments. Furthermore, all of the described steps 1-10 do not necessarily occur in ail embodiments. it can be assumed that the detector 140 discovers a deficiency of the vehicle 00 in a first step. As has been mentioned above, the vehicle may contain several detectors 140 in certain embodiments, arranged to detect faults and deficiencies of various types in the vehicle 100. One of these detectors 140, for example, may detect a certain event and transmit a signal as a consequence of this. This signal is received by the calculation unit 150. The detector 140, or the relevant detector 140, may transmit a signal in which the condition of the monitored unit is indicated to the calculation unit 150, either as response to a request sent from the calculation unit 150 or at a certain interval of time according to different embodiments, such as, for example, every second, every minute, every 15 minutes, every 30 minutes, every hour, or other similar interval comprising a multiple of any one of the above intervals through multiplication by a freely chosen positive integer. The detector 140, however, may be arranged also to transmit a signal with such an indication when a deficiency is discovered.

The deficiency that has been detected is displayed to the driver on the display 130 in certain embodiments, as, for example, "Low fuel", or "Puncture in right rear wheel". It is possible in this way for the driver to adapt the driving to the deficiency of the vehicle that has arisen, and possibly also take suitable measures as a consequence of it.

When the calculation unit 150 receives information from the detector 140 that a certain event has occurred in the vehicle 100, an analysis is carried out of which possible measure the deficiency that has been detected should give rise to. Such an analysis may comprise, for example, a mapping of a detected deficiency against a measure in a memory. For example, the deficiency "5 litres of fuel remaining in the tank" may give rise to the measure "Find a route with a fuel station within 12 kilometres", while the deficiency "Reduction of torque produced by the engine" may give rise to the measure "Find a route with as few uphill sections as possible", etc.

The route 220 that is selected for the vehicle 100 can in this way be optimised, or at least improved to a certain extent, with respect to operating economy, comprising the aspects of time and cost Driving a heavily loaded set up a steep hill with a reduction in the torque produced by the engine gives a low average speed and thus also a late delivery, which can be avoided by choosing instead a new route 220.

When the calculation unit 150 has calculated a measure, or a route property 210 that is appropriate, based on the deficiency that has been detected, a request is sent to the navigation unit 120 for a route 220 that has the calculated route property 2 0.

The navigation unit 120 can subsequently select one or several alternative routes 220 for the vehicle 100, which routes possess the requested route property 210. In certain embodiments it may prove to be the case that the existing planned route 220 has the requested route property 210. In this case, the route 220 is not changed, but the requested route property 210 may, possibly, be added as an intermediate goal, if this is appropriate, for example a fuel station in the event of a shortage of fuel. In other cases it may prove to be the case that the previously planned route 220 to the final destination 230 does not have the requested route property 210. In this case the navigation unit 120 may select a new route 220, or several new alternative routes 220 for the vehicle 100, which routes all possess the requested route property 2 0.

The new route or routes, or the modified route 220, can subsequently be displayed to the driver on the display 130. The driver is in this way given the possibility of selecting the presented route or routes 220. When the driver selects a new route 220, the navigation unit 120 can receive this information and enter the new route 220 into the navigation unit 120 as a stored route 220 according to certain embodiments. The navigation unit 120 can then store this route 220, which has been selected by the driver, in a memory. A route 220 can in this way be planned such that it is in accordance with a deficiency or fault that has arisen on the vehicle 100. Figure 4 illustrates an example of an embodiment of the invention. The flow diagram in Figure 4 illustrates a method 400 in a navigation unit 120 in a vehicle 100 for the planning of a route 220 for the vehicle 100 when the vehicle 100 is affected by a limitation in its ability to progress. Such a limitation may comprise, for example, a reduction in the torque produced by the vehicle engine, shortage of fuel, shortage of urea, puncture, loss of tyre pressure, displacement of the load in the load compartment, shortage of oil, shortage of windscreen washer fluid, electrical fault, or similar event. in order to make such a route planning possible for the vehicle 100 in a correct manner, the method 400 may comprise a number of steps 401-404. It should, however, be observed that certain of the steps 401-404 described can be carried out in a somewhat different chronological order than that suggested by the numbering, and that certain of them can be carried out in parallel with each other, according to different embodiments. Furthermore, certain of the method steps such as, for example, step 404 are not necessarily obligatory in ail embodiments of the method 400. The method 400 comprises the following steps:

Step 401

A request for a route 220 with a route property 210 is received from an analysis unit 150 in the vehicle 100. Such a route property 210 may comprise, for example, any one of a road gradient that does not exceed a pre-determined limiting value, a fuel station, a vehicle- repair workshop, or similar. in certain embodiments, the request for a route 220 with a route property 210 that has been received from an analysis unit 150 in the vehicle 100 may comprise also an indication with respect to a vehicle-related event that has been detected, which may be displayed to the driver. The driver is in this case given the possibility to change a magnitude associated with the vehicle-related event that has been detected. Step 402

A route 220 that possesses the received route property 210 is selected for the vehicle 100,

According to certain embodiments, at least two distinct routes 220 for the vehicle 5 100 may be selected, whereby the driver of the vehicle is encouraged to make the final choice of route 220 for the vehicle 100.

Step 403

The selected 402 route 220 is presented on a display 130, such that the driver is given the possibility of choosing this route 220, or of rejecting it and continuing0 instead along the original route.

According to certain embodiments, at least two different routes 220 may be presented, whereby the driver of the vehicle is encouraged to make the final choice of route 220 for the vehicle 100.

Step 404 5 This method step is present in certain, but not necessarily in ail, embodiments.

The route 220 that is presented 403 may be stored in the navigation unit 120, when the driver chooses this route 220.

Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of a navigation unit 120 in a vehicle 100, for0 the planning of a route 220 for the vehicle 100 when the vehicle 100 is affected by a limitation in its ability to progress. Such a limitation may comprise, for example, a reduction in the amount of torque produced by the vehicle engine, shortage of fuel, shortage of urea, puncture, loss of tyre pressure, displacement of the load in the load compartment, shortage of oil, shortage of windscreen washer fluid, electrical5 fault, or similar event. This navigation unit 20 is configured to carry out at least certain of the previously described method steps 401-408, comprised in the description of the method 400.

In order to make the planning, or rep!anning, of a route 220 for the vehicle 100 in a correct manner possible, the navigation unit 120 comprises a number of components that will be described in more detail in the following text. Certain of the components described are present in some, but not necessarily all, embodiments. Also further electronic circuits may be present in the navigation unit 120 that are not completely necessary to understand the function of the navigation unit 120 according to the invention. The navigation unit 120 comprises a receiver 510, arranged to receive a request for a route 220 with a route property 210 from an analysis unit 150 in the vehicle 100.

Furthermore, the navigation unit 120 comprises a processor circuit 520 arranged to select a route 220 for the vehicle 100 that possesses the received route property 210.

The processor circuit 520 may be arranged to select and make the presentation of at least two distinct routes 220 for the vehicle 100 possible, and to encourage the driver of the vehicle to make the final choice of route 220 for the vehicle 100 according to certain embodiments. The processor circuit 520 may be constituted by, for example, one or several central processing units (CPUs), microprocessors or other logic circuits designed to interpret and carry out instructions and to which to [sic, extra "which to"] read and write data. The processor circuit 520 can handle data for the input flow, output flow or data processing of data comprising also the buffering of data, control functions and similar.

The navigation unit comprises also a transmitting circuit 530 arranged to transmit information associated with the selected route 220 in order to make the display of the said route 220 on, for example, a display 130 or similar possible, such that the driver is given the possibility to select this route 220 or to reject it and continue instead along the original route.

The navigation unit 120 may, in certain embodiments, comprise or be able to be connected to, a memory 525, arranged to store the route 220 that has been presented, when the driver chooses this route 220.

The memory unit 525 in the navigation unit 120 may in certain embodiments be constituted by a medium for the storage of data. The memory unit 525 may be constituted by, for example, a memory card, flash memory, a USB memory, a harddisk or other similar data storage unit, for exampie, any member of the group: ROM (Read-Only Memory), PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable PROM), Flash memory, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM), etc., in different embodiments.

According to certain embodiments the vehicle 100 comprises several memories 525 for the storage of references to the activity that has been detected together med information associated with it, where the navigation unit 120 is arranged to receive stored references to activities and the information associated with these from the relevant memory 525 over a communication interface.

The navigation unit 120 comprises in certain embodiments an analysis unit 150. The navigation unit 120 in other embodiments can be connected to an analysis unit 150 located outside of the navigation unit 120.

The navigation unit 120 may comprise also, or be connected to, a display 130, arranged for the illustration of a route for the vehicle 100. The navigation unit 120 may comprise also, or be connected to, an input unit, arranged to receive an input, a registration or a command from a user, such as, for example, the driver of the vehicle. Such an input unit may be constituted by, for example, a display that is sensitive to pressure, known as a "touch-sensitive screen", a keyboard, a computer mouse, a pressure-sensitive plate, a set of buttons, or similar in different embodiments. Furthermore, the invention comprises a computer program in the navigation unit 120, for the planning of a route 220 for the vehicle 100 when the vehicle 100 has been affected by a limitation to its ability to progress, whereby the computer program is arranged to carry out the method 400 according to at least one of the 5 method steps 401-404 described above, when the computer program is executed in a processor circuit 520 in the navigation unit 120.

The method 400 according to the steps 401-404 for the planning of a route 220 for the vehicle 100 when the vehicle 100 has been affected by a limitation in its ability to progress can be implemented through one or several processor circuits 520 in 10 the navigation unit 120, together with computer program code to carry out any one, some, certain of, or all of the steps 401-404 that have been described above. A computer program comprising instructions to carry out the steps 401-404 can in this way be executed when the program is loaded into the processor circuit 520.

15 Figure 6 illustrates an example of an embodiment of the invention. The flow diagram in Figure 8 illustrates a method 600 in an analysis unit 150 in a vehicle 100 for participation in the planning of a route 220 for the vehicle 100 in a navigation unit 120 when the vehicle 100 has been affected by a limitation in its ability to progress. Such a limitation may comprise, for example, a reduction in the

20 torque produced by the vehicle engine, shortage of fuel, shortage of urea, puncture, loss of tyre pressure, displacement of the load in the load compartment, shortage of oil, shortage of windscreen washer fluid, electrical fault, or similar event.

In certain embodiments, the analysis unit 150 is comprised in the navigation unit 25 120; in other embodiments the analysis unit 150 is a separate unit relative to the navigation unit 120, but connected to it over a wireless or wired interface.

Furthermore, the analysis unit 150 is arranged to communicate with one or several detectors 140 in the vehicle 100. Such a detector 140 may occasionally be called also a "sensor". The communication between the analysis unit 150 and the relevant detector 140 can take place over a wireless or wired interface, according to different embodiments.

In order to make participation in such route planning for the vehicle 100 possible in a correct manner, the method 600 may comprise a number of steps 801-803. It should, however, be observed that certain of the steps 801-803 described can be carried out in a somewhat different chronological order than that suggested by the numbering, and that certain of them can be carried out in parallel with each other, according to different embodiments. Furthermore, certain of the method steps are not necessarily obligatory in all embodiments of the method 600. The method 800 comprises the following steps:

Step 801

A signal that indicates that a detected vehicle-related event has occurred is received from a detector 140.

Step 802 En route property 210 that is required by the vehicle-related event that has been received 601 is determined.

Such determination may comprise, for example, in certain embodiments that the signal that has been received 601 is compared with signal values stored in a memory in, or connected to, the analysis unit 150. When a match has been found between a signal that has been received 601 and a signal value stored in the memory, a route property 210, or action, stored in the memory and associated with the stored signal value is extracted from the memory, it can in this way be determined also that the vehicle-related event that has been received 601 requires this route property 210. Step 603

A request for a route 220 that possesses the route property 210 that has been determined 602 is transmitted to the navigation unit 120 in the vehicle 100. Such a transmission of a request for a route 220 with the route property 210 that has been determined 602 may comprise also an indication with respect to the vehicle-related event that has been detected, in certain embodiments. One advantage of this may be that the driver is made aware of the deficiency in the vehicle 100 that has arisen and is given the possibility to take suitable action, in addition to changing the route, such as, for example, stopping the vehicle 100 as soon as possible and faking action to repair the deficiency, if this is possible for the driver, or telephoning for a vehicular rescue service if this is required.

Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment of an analysis unit 150 in a vehicle 100, arranged to carry out least one of the method steps 601-603 described above and comprised within the method 600 for participation in the planning of a route 220 for the vehicle 100 in a navigation unit 120, when the vehicle 100 has been affected by a limitation of its ability to progress. Such a limitation may comprise, for example, a reduction in the torque produced by the vehicle engine, shortage of fuel, shortage of urea, puncture, loss of tyre pressure, displacement of the load in the load compartment, shortage of oil, shortage of windscreen washer fluid, electrical fault, or similar event.

The analysis unit 150 is illustrated in Figure 7 as a separate unit relative to the navigation unit 120, connected to it over a wireless or wired interface. The analysis unit 150 may, however, be comprised within the navigation unit 120, according to certain embodiments. in order to be able to participate in a correct manner in the planning of a route 220 for the vehicle, the analysis unit 150 comprises a number of components that will be described in more detail in the following text. Certain of the components described are present in some, but not necessarily all, embodiments. There may be present also further electronic circuits or components, or electronic circuits and components, in the analysis unit 150 that are not completely necessary to understand the function of the analysis unit 150 according to the invention. The analysis unit 150 comprises a receiver 710, arranged to receive a signal that indicates a detected vehicle-related event from a detector 140 in the vehicle 100. This reception may take place over a wireless or wired interface, according to different embodiments. Furthermore, the analysis unit 150 comprises a processor circuit 720, arranged to determine a route property 210 required by the vehicle-related event that has been received.

The processor circuit 720 may be constituted by, for example, one or several central processing units (CPUs), microprocessors or other logic circuits designed to interpret and carry out instructions and/or to read and write data. The processor circuit 720 can handle data for the input flow, output flow or data processing of data comprising also the buffering of data, control functions and similar.

The analysis unit 150 may in certain embodiments comprise, or be connected to a memory 725 adapted to store information related to route properties 210, vehicle- related events, and a mapping between these, according to certain embodiments. The memory unit 725 may in certain embodiments be constituted by a medium for the storage of data. Such a computer memory 725 may be constituted by, for example, a memory card, flash memory, a USB memory, a harddisk or other similar data storage unit, for example, any member of the group: ROM (Read-Only Memory), PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable PROM), Flash memory, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM), etc., in different embodiments.

Furthermore the analysis unit 150 comprises a transmitting circuit 730, arranged to transmit to a navigation unit 120 in the vehicle 100 a request for a route 220 that possesses the route property 210 that has been determined.

The units described above, transmitter 730 and receiver 710, may in certain embodiments be constituted by a separate transmitter 730 and receiver 710 as illustrated in Figure 7, They can, however, in certain embodiments be constituted by a transceiver that is adapted to transmit and to receive radio signals, and where parts of the construction, for example the aerial, are common for the transmitter and the receiver. Furthermore, the said transmitter 730 and receiver 710 may be adapted for the wireless transfer of information over radio waves, WLAN, Bluetooth, or an infrared transmitter/receiver module. The transmitter 730 and the receiver 710 may, however, in certain embodiments be specially adapted for the wired exchange of information with at least one of the detector 140, sensor, measurement arrangement and the data bus of the vehicle.

Furthermore, the invention comprises a computer program in the analysis unit 150 described above in a vehicle 100, for participation in the planning of a route 220 for the vehicle 100 in a navigation unit 120, when the vehicle 100 has been affected by a limitation in its ability to progress. The computer program is arranged to carry out the method 600 according to at least one of the previously described steps 801-603, when the computer program is executed in a processor circuit 720 in the analysis unit 150.

The method 800 according to the steps 601-803 for participation in the planning of a route in a vehicle 100 can be implemented through one or several processor circuits 720 in the analysis unit 150, together with computer program code to carry out any one, some, certain of, or all of the steps 601-603 that have been described above. A computer program comprising instructions to carry out the steps 601-803 can in this way be executed when the program is loaded into the processor circuit 720.

Figure 7 shows, as does also Figure 5 although from a somewhat different perspective, a system 500 in a vehicle 100 for the planning of a route 220 for the vehicle 100.

The system 500 comprises a navigation unit 120 according to what has been described previously, and an analysis unit 150 and at least one detector 140, arranged to detect at least one vehicle-related event in the vehicle 100, and a display 130, arranged to present the selected route 220 to the driver of the vehicle.

All embodiments of the invention include also a vehicle 100 that comprises the system 500 specified above.

Claims

1. A method (400) in a navigation unit (120) in a vehicle (100), for the planning of a route (220) for the vehicle (100) when the vehicle (100) has been affected by a limitation in its ability to progress, whereby the method (400) is characterised by: the reception (401) of a request for a route (220) with a route property (210) from an analysis unit (150) in the vehicle (100), selection (402) of a route (220) for the vehicle (100) that possesses the received route property (210), presentation (403) of the selected (402) route (220) on a display (130), such that the driver is given the possibility to choose this route (220), or to reject it and instead continue along the original route.

2. The method (400) according to claim 1 , comprising the selection (402) and presentation (403) of at least two distinct routes (220) for the vehicle (100), whereby the driver of the vehicle is encouraged to make the final choice of route (220) for the vehicle (100).

3. The method (400) according to any one of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising: the storage (404) of the presented (403) route (220) in the navigation unit (120), when the driver selects this route (220).

4. The method (400) according to any one of claims 1-3, whereby the route property (210) comprises any one of: a road gradient that does not exceed a predetermined limiting value, a fuel station, a vehicle-repair workshop, or similar.

5. The method (400) according to claims 1-4, where the request for a route (220) with a route property (210) that has been received (401) from an analysis unit (150) in the vehicle (100) comprises also an indication with respect to a vehicle-related event that has been detected, which is presented to the driver, and thai the driver is given the possibility of changing a magnitude associated with the vehicle-related event that has been defected,

6. A navigation unit (120) in a vehicle (100), for the planning of a route (220) for the vehicle (100) when the vehicle (100) has been affected by a limitation in its ability to progress, characterised by: a receiver (510), arranged to receive a request for a route (220) with a route property (210), from an analysis unit (150) in the vehicle (100), a processor circuit (520), arranged to select a route (220) for the vehicle (100) that possesses the received route property (210), and a transmitting circuit (530) arranged to transmit information associated with the selected route (220) in order to make the display of the said route (220) on a display (130) possible, such that the driver is given the possibility to select this route (220) or to reject it and continue instead along the original route.

7. The navigation unit (120) according to claim 8, whereby the processor circuit (520) is arranged to select and make the presentation of at least two distinct routes (220) for the vehicle (100) possible, and to encourage the driver of the vehicle to make the final choice of route (220) for the vehicle (100).

8. The navigation unit (120) according to any one of claim 6 or claim 7, further comprising: a memory (525), arranged to store the route (220) that has been presented, when the driver selects this route (220).

9. The navigation unit (120) according to any one of claims 6-8, further comprising an analysis unit (150).

10. A computer program in a navigation unit (120) according to any one of claims 6-9 in a vehicle (100), for the planning of a route (220) for the vehicle (100) when the vehicle (100) has been affected by a limitation in its ability to progress, whereby the computer program is arranged to carry out the method (400) according to any one of claims 1-5 when the computer program is executed in a processor circuit (520) in the navigation unit (120),

1 1 . A method (800) in an analysis unit (150) in a vehicle (100), for participation in the planning of a route (220) for the vehicle (100) in a navigation unit (120), when the vehicle (100) has been affected by a limitation in its ability to progress, whereby the method (600) is characterised by: the reception (601) of a signal that indicates a detected vehicle-related event, from a detector (140), the determination (602) of a route property (210) required by the vehicie- related event that has been received (601), the transmission (603) of a request for a route (220) that has the route property (210) that has been determined (602) to a navigation unit (120) in the vehicle (100).

12. The method (600) according to claim 11 , whereby the vehicle-related event comprises any one of: reduction in the torque produced by the engine, fuel shortage, urea shortage, puncture, loss of tyre pressure, displacement of load in the load compartment, oil shortage, shortage of windscreen washer fluid, electrical fault, or similar event. 3. The method (600) according to any one of claim 1 1 and claim 12, whereby the transmission (603) of a request for a route (220) with the route property (210) that has been determined (602) comprises also an indication with respect to the vehicle-related event that has been detected.

14. An analysis unit (150) in a vehicle (100), for participation in the planning of a route (220) for the vehicle (100) in a navigation unit (120), when the vehicle (100) has been affected by a limitation in its ability to progress, characterised by: a receiver (710), arranged to receive a signal that indicates a detected vehicle-related event from a detector (140) in the vehicle (100), a processor circuit (720), arranged to determine a route property (210) required by the vehicle-related event that has been received, and a transmitting circuit (730) arranged to transmit a request for a route (220) that possesses the route property (210) that has been determined (602) to a 5 navigation unit (120) in the vehicle (100).

15. A computer program in an analysis unit (150) according to claim 14 in a vehicle (100), for participation in the planning of a route (220) for the vehicle (100) in a navigation unit (120) when the vehicle (100) has been affected by a limitation in its ability to progress, whereby the computer program is arranged to carry out

10 the method (600) according to any one of claims 11-13 when the computer program is executed in a processor circuit (720) in the analysis unit (150).

16. A system (500) in a vehicle (100), for the planning of a route (220) for vehicle (100), comprising: a navigation unit (120) according to any one of claims 6-9, is an analysis unit (150) according to claim 14, a detector (140), arranged to detect a vehicle-related event in the vehicle (100), and a display (130), arranged to present the route (220) that has been selected.

20 17. A vehicle (100) comprising a system (500) according to claim 16.