IP Library Granted Patent US 12682131
Granted Patent B2
US 12682131 · App. 18/040,269 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Computer-implemented method for providing a test process for traffic scenarios to be tested

Inventors: Patrick Bouillon (Paderborn, DE); Rainer Rasche (Paderborn, DE); Jens Horstmann (Paderborn, DE); Eyke Huellermeier (Paderborn, DE)
Assignee: dSPACE SE & Co. KG
G06F30/15G06N20/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12682131
App. No.
18/040,269
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer-implemented method for providing a scenario test process includes: training and using a similarity classification module to classify the similarity between two scenarios based on respective subsets of respective parameter sets of the two scenarios; generating a graph representation including a multiplicity of scenarios, including the two scenarios, wherein respective nodes represent respective subsets of respective parameter sets of respective scenarios, and edges between respective nodes are weighted by a similarity classification value which indicates the similarity between respective scenarios corresponding to the respective nodes; receiving an input including a required value for covering scenarios stored in a storage unit and/or a required number of scenarios to be tested, such that a selection and an order of execution of scenarios is determined; and providing the selection and the order of execution and/or a coverage value of an overall coverage of the selection of scenarios.

Claims (30)

1 . A computer-implemented method for providing a scenario test process in relation to scenarios to be tested, in particular traffic scenarios, for tests of a device for driving a vehicle at least partially autonomously, comprising:

training and using a similarity classification module to classify similarity between two scenarios based on respective subsets of respective parameter sets of the two scenarios, wherein the two scenarios are virtual representations of actual traffic situations;

generating a graph representation including a multiplicity of scenarios, including the two scenarios, wherein respective nodes represent respective subsets of respective parameter sets of respective scenarios, and edges between respective nodes are weighted by a similarity classification value which indicates the similarity between respective scenarios corresponding to the respective nodes;

receiving a user input via an electronic user interface and/or an automatic system input, wherein the input includes a required value for covering scenarios stored in a storage unit and/or a required number of scenarios to be tested, such that a selection and an order of execution of scenarios is determined such that the graph has maximum coverage; and

providing the selection and the order of execution and/or a coverage value of an overall coverage of the selection of scenarios.

2 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein a parameter set for a respective scenario includes:

scenery parameters including at least one of: a number of lanes and/or a width thereof and/or corners and/or road restrictions and/or ambient temperature; and

driving situation parameters, which describe a number and properties of moving objects in the scenario, including: a number of road users and/or a number of lane changes in a traffic situation.

3 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein respective scenarios are described by a respective subset of a respective parameter set of the scenario.

4 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein scenario vector representations for respective scenarios contain differentiating variables, including scenery parameters and driving situation parameters differentiating respective actual traffic situations from one another.

5 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein a scenario vector representation of a traffic scenario is stored in a central storage apparatus and requires less storage capacity than a non-vector-represented scenario.

6 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein scenarios encompass a multiplicity of tests of a device for driving a vehicle at least partially autonomously, and wherein road user speeds are varied in the tests.

7 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the similarity classification module for classifying the similarity between two scenarios utilizes machine learning.

8 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 7 , wherein training data for the similarity classification module is supplied through user input and/or measurement results, and/or is given by previous simulation results of previous tests.

9 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the classification of the similarity is expressed by the similarity classification module via a similarity classification value between 0 and 1.

10 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein a first node being selected in a form of a subset of a parameter set in the graph corresponds to a coverage value of 1 being indicated, and for adjacent nodes in the graph a maximum similarity classification value between the first node and each adjacent node is set as the coverage value.

11 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 10 , wherein a maximum possible coverage is opted for in connection with selecting a further node.

12 . A testing device for providing a scenario test process in relation to scenarios to be tested, in particular traffic scenarios, for tests of a device for driving a vehicle at least partially autonomously, comprising:

a memory having executable instructions stored thereon; and

a control unit;

wherein the control unit is configured to execute the instructions to facilitate the following being performed by the testing device:

training and using a similarity classification module to classify similarity between two scenarios based on respective subsets of respective parameter sets of the two scenarios, wherein the two scenarios are virtual representations of actual traffic situations;

generating a graph representation including a multiplicity of scenarios, including the two scenarios, wherein respective nodes represent respective subsets of respective parameter sets of respective scenarios, and edges between respective nodes are weighted by a similarity classification value which indicates the similarity between respective scenarios corresponding to the respective nodes;

receiving a user input via an electronic user interface and/or an automatic system input, wherein the input includes a required value for covering scenarios stored in a storage unit and/or a required number of scenarios to be tested, such that a selection and an order of execution of scenarios is determined such that the graph has maximum coverage; and

providing the selection and the order of execution and/or a coverage value of an overall coverage of the selection of scenarios.

13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having processor-executable instructions stored thereon for providing a scenario test process in relation to scenarios to be tested, in particular traffic scenarios, for tests of a device for driving a vehicle at least partially autonomously, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed, facilitate:

training and using a similarity classification module to classify similarity between two scenarios based on respective subsets of respective parameter sets of the two scenarios, wherein the two scenarios are virtual representations of actual traffic situations;

generating a graph representation including a multiplicity of scenarios, including the two scenarios, wherein respective nodes represent respective subsets of respective parameter sets of respective scenarios, and edges between respective nodes are weighted by a similarity classification value which indicates the similarity between respective scenarios corresponding to the respective nodes;

receiving a user input via an electronic user interface and/or an automatic system input, wherein the input includes a required value for covering scenarios stored in a storage unit and/or a required number of scenarios to be tested, such that a selection and an order of execution of scenarios is determined such that the graph has maximum coverage; and

providing the selection and the order of execution and/or a coverage value of an overall coverage of the selection of scenarios.