Granted Patent B2

US 12,658,044 · App. 18/255,144 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Inventors: Daniel Münning (Braunschweig, DE); Lukas Ackert (Frellstedt, DE)

Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

G08G1/143B60W30/06B60W40/105B60W50/14G08G1/0125G08G1/0141G08G1/015G08G1/052G08G1/096725G08G1/096775B60W2050/146B60W2556/45

Abstract

Claims (24)

1 . A method for supporting a parking process in a road section, comprising:

receiving speeds of a plurality of reference vehicles of a vehicle swarm in the road section by a vehicle-external central computer;

determining a statistical value for the road section from at least the speeds of the plurality of reference vehicles of the vehicle swarm by the vehicle-external central computer, the statistical value being representative of a characteristic pattern of normal road use of the road section other than parking, the statistical value comprising an average or median value, or a distribution of the speeds of the reference vehicles, depending on the type of vehicle, weather, day of the week, and on time of day;

detecting, by a driver assistance system of the motor vehicle, a speed of a motor vehicle while driving along the route section;

detecting, by the driver assistance system of the motor vehicle, the presence of a further vehicle in front;

comparing the detected speed with the statistical value for the road section according to a predetermined comparison method for evaluating an intention to park the motor vehicle;

evaluating the intention to park by determining, whether the detected speed of the motor vehicle fulfills a predetermined parking criterion with respect to the statistical value while the motor vehicle is driving along the road section, the determination comprising detecting a relatively lower speed of the motor vehicle compared with the statistical value, the determination further comprising whether the further vehicle in front is present or not;

if the detected speed of the motor vehicle fulfills the predetermined criterion, selectively outputting a query signal inside the motor vehicle to allow an occupant to initiate a parking process by the driver assistance system; and

selectively initiating a partially or fully autonomous parking process by the driver assistance system if a predetermined input by the occupant is detected in response to the query signal.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the statistical value is a distribution of the speed.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the statistical value is dependent on the time of year.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined criterion is dependent on a distance of the motor vehicle from a geographic destination.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the statistical value is dependent on the time of year.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined criterion is dependent on a distance of the motor vehicle from a geographic destination.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined criterion is dependent on a distance of the motor vehicle from a geographic destination.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fulfillment of the predetermined criterion in respect to the statistical value by the detected speed of the motor vehicle while driving along the road section is detected by the central computer and the driver assistance system is instructed by a notification signal to output the query signal.

9 . A driver assistance system for a motor vehicle, wherein the driver assistance system is configured to:

detect a speed of the motor vehicle while driving along a road section;

compare the detected speed with a statistical value for the road section according to a predetermined comparison method for evaluating an intention to park the motor vehicle, the statistical value being obtained from at least speeds of a plurality of reference vehicles of a vehicle swarm and the statistical value being representative of a characteristic pattern of normal road use of the road section other than parking the statistical value comprising an average or median value, or a distribution of the speeds of the reference vehicles, depending on the type of vehicle, weather, day of the week, and on time of day;

detect, by the driver assistance system of the motor vehicle, the presence of a further vehicle in front;

evaluate the intention to park by determining, whether the detected speed of the motor vehicle fulfills a predetermined criterion with respect to the statistical value while the motor vehicle is driving along the road section, the determination comprising detecting a relatively lower speed of the motor vehicle compared with the statistical value, the determination further comprising whether the further vehicle in front is present or not;

if the detected speed of the motor vehicle fulfills the predetermined criterion, selectively output a query signal inside the motor vehicle to allow an occupant to initiate a parking process by the driver assistance system; and to

selectively initiate a partially or fully autonomous parking process if a predetermined input by the occupant is detected in response to the query signal.

10 . A motor vehicle comprising a driver assistance system according to claim 9 .

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (15)