COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to improvements in relation to a communication system for a driver of e.g. a commercial vehicle such as a truck.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Being a commercial driver, such as a truck driver, is traditionally a rather solitary profession, as most of the time spent at work is alone in the vehicle. However, in the early 1960s the Citizens' Band, more commonly known as "CB radio" or as below just "CB", found its way into many trucks and provided the drivers with a communication means which partly alleviated the solitariness of the profession. CB allows a driver to communicate with another driver within the range of about 0 km if the terrain is decent.

Although the technology within social communications has developed substantially over the last 20 years, many truck drivers still use CB as their primary social communication means. Moreover, the digital development of social communication presents many advantages over the CB technology.

Thus, there is a need for a social communication means adapted for commercial drivers such as truck drivers that is based on digital social communication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to achieve a social communication means adapted for commercial drivers which is based on digital social

communication.

The invention is ^" based on the inventors' realization that the a

communication need for drivers is to obtain directions, and that a digital social communication means allows superior quality of directions compared to a traditional communication means such as a CB. The inventors have realized that by allowing a first driver to draw directions on a map provided on a display and by providing the map with directions to a second driver, clear and quick directions, and independent of the distance between the first and second driver, can be communicated by means of a digital social

communication, .

According to a first aspect of the inventive concept, the above and other objects are achieved through a method for enabling a first driver to provide directions to a second driver, comprising the steps of; providing a digital map on a touch screen display to the first driver, detecting a first geographical location on the map, displaying the first geographical location on the map, enabling the first driver to draw directions on the touch screen from the first geographical location to a second geographical location on the map, and providing the map comprising the directions to the second driver.

In the context of the application a "touch screen display" should be understood as any display allowing control through touching the display area, either with a body part or with e.g. a stylus. The touch screen display may be implemented in a device such as a monitor, hand held device, e.g. a tablet, smart phone, computer, Head-up display (HUD) or GPS unit. Moreover, the touch screen may be a display integrated in the dashboard.

By above-mentioned method, a second driver can obtain clear and quick directions from a first driver. Further, the first driver, whom might have updated information on relevant conditions, may provide the second driver with a tailored direction, and without the risk of mixing up right/left turns, exit numbers or other parameters that are poorly communicated by traditional communication means, such as CB or a phone call.

Moreover, by providing the digital map to the first driver, the risk that the first driver would forget to describe a turn or other direction detail, or leave out a direction detail because s/he believes it is obvious, is eliminated since the driver is encouraged to draw the complete distance between the first and the second geographical location.

Furthermore, by allowing the first driver to simply draw the directions on the touch screen, the first driver can swiftly provide the directions without writing street names or handling different intermediate devices such as a keyboard or a mouse. Thereby, the time required of the first user to supply the direction is vastly reduced.

Moreover, as the first geographical location is detected, the user will save time in not having to manually search for the relevant geographical area on the digital map, and thereby the time required for the first user to supply the direction is further reduced.

Furthermore, the risk that the second driver forgets about a direction detail, such as which way to turn, a name of a street, or any other details in the direction, is basically eliminated as the complete distance between the first and the second geographical location is provided on the map.

According to another embodiment, the method further comprises the step of enabling the first driver to provide written or oral directions to the second driver. Thereby, the directions drawn on the map can be

complemented and further explained by adding clarifications in text and/or speech. E.g. if a direction detail, such as a turn in a crossing requires the driver to drive the vehicle in a certain lane, it can be clarified by text or speech.

Moreover, information, not being crucial to the direction, but still providing value for the driver can be added in the directions. Examples of such information could be "check out the view on your right hand side", "when approaching the corner, watch out for Willie and the Poorboys as they are playing out in the street", or "the gas station on approaching on your left has the best chicken wraps and great gas price".

According to yet another embodiment, the method further comprises the step of allowing the second driver to submit written or oral communication to the first driver. Thereby, the second driver, whom is receiving the directions, may ask for clarifications of the directions or supply feedback to the first driver.

According to another embodiment, the first geographical location corresponds to the location of the second driver's vehicle. Thereby, the relevant starting position for the second driver is automatically supplied to the first driver through the detected first geographical location. This will vastly save time for the first driver, not having to manually search for the relevant geographical location of the second driver on the digital map. Moreover, it shortens the period for the second driver to obtain the new directions.

According to yet another embodiment, directions are provided to the second driver as turn-by-turn directions. In one embodiment, the turn-by-turn directions are automatically generated from the directions drawn by said first driver.

By providing turn-by-turn directions to the second driver, the risk of missing a turn is reduced for the second driver. Moreover, by automatically generating the turn-by-turn instructions, the first driver does not have to spend time on specifying each turn in the directions. In one embodiment the turn-by- turn directions are indicated with figures for going straight, left or right. In another embodiment the turn-by-turn directions are spoken turn-by-turn directions.

According to yet another embodiment, the step of providing the map comprising the directions to the second driver, comprises establishing a peer- to-peer connection between the first driver and the second driver. Thereby, the directions and any other potential communication between the first and the second driver can be held private. Thus, allowing the drivers to discuss whatever issues they want to, without having to consider other's overhearing the directions and other potential communication.

According to another embodiment, the step of providing the map comprising the directions to the remote driver is conducted in real time.

Thereby, the directions are provided to the second driver without any delay, enabling the second driver to take immediate actions if needed. Further, if there is any written or oral communication between the first and second driver, such communication can be held in real time. Thereby, for example, allowing the second driver to ask questions when they appear and/or allowing the first driver to provide relevant directions when appropriate.

According to yet another embodiment, the step of providing the map comprising the directions to the second driver, comprises creating a geomessage comprising the map with the directions and a geographical location, so that the second driver can access the geomessage when being in the relevant geographical area. Thereby, the directions can be placed so that the second driver may access them when being in the relevant geographical area. Further, the second driver may be any driver being in the relevant geographical area. Thereby, several drivers may utilize the same directions, thus obtaining a very efficient way of distributing a direction from one driver to another driver. This may be desirable for example when a road passage is blocked or has a limited capacity causing traffic congestions. Further, if traffic conditions, accidents, road work or any other issue affecting the passability of the road a direction provided to drivers through a geomessage would be very appropriate.

Moreover, by associating the direction with a relevant geographical area, drivers for which the directions are not relevant can be excluded from the directions, unlike in traditional communication means like e.g. CB or similar.

According to another embodiment, the geomessage further comprises a validity term. Thereby, a direction can be assured to be deleted or marked outdated if the validity term is passed, allowing drivers to sort directions so that non-relevant directions are not confused with relevant directions.

Moreover, it would be possible for drivers to filter the directions so that only relevant directions are displayed.

According to yet another embodiment, the geomessage is provided to a geomessage handling system and distributed to drivers associated with a geographical area or a route corresponding to the geomessage's

geographical location. Thereby, any driver associated with a geographical region can be reached simultaneously. For example, any driver traveling from Modesto to Los Angeles and traveling on California State Route 99 (SR 99) may be interested in directions for avoiding traffic jams caused by an accident occurred on SR 99 outside Fresno. By providing the directions in a

geomessage associated with a geographical location outside Fresno, any driver may be efficiently communicated the directions.

According to another embodiment, the step of enabling the first driver to draw directions on the touch screen from the first geographical location to a second geographical location on the map further comprises evaluating the drawn directions and adjusting the drawn directions to coincide with the closest relevant road on the digital map. Thereby, the first driver can quickly draw the directions and experience a "snap-to-streets function" when drawing. As the function will assisting the first driver to draw relevant directions this feature would further save time for the first driver. Moreover, the directions obtained with the method comprising the "snap-to-streets" function will improve the clarity of the directions, hence facilitate for the second driver to understand the directions and follow them more accurately.

According to yet another embodiment, the method further comprises the steps; evaluating the direction of traffic on the closest relevant road, and if the closest relevant road has a direction of traffic opposing the drawn direction, providing the first driver with a warning. Thereby, the risk of a first driver directing a second driver onto a one-way road, but in the wrong direction, is vastly reduced. Thus, the safety for the second driver is

improved.

Moreover, directions encouraging a driver to drive in a direction opposing to the traffic direction on a one-way street severely damages the credibility of the direction. Thus, the method comprising the step of warning the first driver according to above will avoid damaging the credibility of the directions.

According to another embodiment, the determination of the relevance of the closest relevant road comprises considering the direction of the traffic of the considered roads, wherein a road with a traffic direction corresponding to the drawn direction is more relevant than a road with an opposing traffic direction compared to the drawn direction. Thereby, the first driver is helped to provide safe and correct directions for the second driver.

According to one embodiment, the directions and/or communication transmitted between the first and second driver may be transmitted by transmitting means using GSM, 3G, 4G, Bluetooth, local area networks such as WLAN, WI-FI, Ethernet, etc or any type of communication over that allows voice, image and/or text to be transmitted.

According to yet another embodiment, the method comprises the intermediate steps of proposing, to the first driver, a direction along a first path which the first driver has driven, and providing the first driver with the alternative to select the direction along the first path for constituting the drawn directions from the first geographical location to the second geographical location on the map.

Thereby, if a first driver have found a good path, e.g. for avoiding a road work or accident, the first driver may easily share the path with a second driver.

According to another embodiment, the method comprises the intermediate steps of proposing, to the first driver, a direction along a second path generated from data collection by means of collaborative filtering from a plurality of drivers which have driven the second path, and providing the first driver with the alternative to select the direction along the second path for constituting the drawn directions from the first geographical location to the second geographical location on said map.

Thereby, a suggested direction may be generated from data collected from a plurality of drivers which may make the suggestion well founded. The data collection may be either implicit, i.e. automatically retrieved from the drivers, or explicit, i.e. manually sent from the drivers.

Furthermore, there is according to the invention provided a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon computer program means for enabling a first driver to provide directions to a second driver, wherein the computer program product comprises code for providing a digital map on a touch screen display to the first driver, code for detecting a first geographical location on the map, code for displaying the first geographical location on the map, code for enabling the first driver to draw directions on the touch screen from the first geographical location to a second geographical location on the map, and code for providing the map comprising the directions to the second driver. The advantages of the inventive concept according to the embodiment as described above, is largely analogous to the benefits as described above.

Furthermore, there is according to the invention provided a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon computer program means for enabling a first driver to provide directions to a second driver, wherein the computer program product comprises code for performing the method according to any of the above described embodiments.

The computer readable medium may be one of a removable

nonvolatile random access memory, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk, a CD- ROM, a DVD-ROM, a USB memory, an SD memory card, or a similar computer readable medium known in the art. The present invention may be implemented using a combination of software and hardware elements.

Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. The skilled addressee realize that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a communication system between five vehicles;

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a flow chart of a method according to one embodiment; and

Fig. 3 illustrates schematically illustrates a map with a drawn direction according to one embodiment;

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a handheld device with a map

comprising a number of geomessages according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled addressee. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout.

Fig. 1 shows how communication between five drivers of five different vehicles may be arranged within a communication system 100 for using in relation to the invention. Fig. 1 illustrates two trucks 102, 104, two tractor units 106, 110 and a car 108. Each vehicle is associated with a name and a geographical location as indicated on the corresponding labels. Further, the figure illustrates the Internet 116, a server 112 and a database 114. The data communication between the vehicles may be conducted by means of a peer- to-peer connection 118 as illustrated between the second truck 104 and the first tractor unit 106. Alternatively, the communication may be centralized communication 120 achieved via e.g. Internet 116, as indicated by the communication lines 120 going from the different vehicles to the internet 116 and back to the vehicles. Further, the vehicles may also communicate with the server 112 and may utilize the database 114.

Moreover, the communication transmitted between the vehicles 102, 104, 106, 108, 110 may be transmitted by transmitting means using GSM, 3G, 4G, Bluetooth, local area networks such as WLAN, WI-FI, Ethernet, etc or any type of communication that allows voice, image and/or text to be transmitted.

In the example the five vehicles are all located in California along CA99, CA101 and Interstate 5. The geographical location of the first truck 102, illustrated in the center of Fig. 1 , is on the highway Interstate 5 with coordinates latitude 36.253133 and longitude -120.245361. The second truck 104 is located on CA 99 outside Madera with coordinates latitude 36.952087 and longitude -120.047607. The first tractor unit 106 is located on Ca 99 outside Visalia with coordinates latitude 36.362140 and longitude - 119.429626. The car 108 is located one CA101 outside Santa Maria with coordinates latitude 34.934356 and longitude -120.417023. Finally the second trailed is located on CA101 outside King City with the coordinates latitude 36.202451 and longitude -121.119461. If the first truck 102 is chosen as a reference point, the second truck 104 is located to the north, the first tractor unit 106 located to the east, the car 108 located to the south and the second tractor unit 110 located to the west. The geographical location of the server 112 and database 114 is not relevant for the inventive concept. For convenience, below, the reference number 102 for the first truck 102 will be used for the first driver 102 and the reference number 104 for the second truck 104 will used for the second driver 104 and so on.

Obviously, the selected types of vehicles are merely examples, and each vehicle may be any type of vehicle without departing from the inventive concept.

In Fig. 2 a method for enabling a first driver 102 to provide directions to a second driver is illustrated in a number of steps. Each step is associated with a reference number. However, the steps do not necessarily need to be performed in the order of the reference signs, e.g. step S2 may be performed before S1 etc.

The first step S1 is providing a digital map 20 on a touch screen display 151 to the driver of the first vehicle 102. The map 20 may be any type of map which may be used to follow a direction. It may comprise roads, buildings, terrain etc. for making the map easy to interpret. The map 20 may be provided on any display 151 allowing control through touching the display area, either with a body part or with e.g. a stylus. The touch screen display may be implemented in a device such as a monitor, hand held device, e.g. a tablet, smart phone, computer, Head-up display (HUD) or GPS unit. Further, the display may be portable or integrated in the vehicle.

Moreover, Fig. 2 illustrates the step S2 of determining a geographical location on the displayed map 20. This step may achieved by a number of different positioning systems such as global positioning system (GPS), GLONASS, Galileo, Compass navigation system, or any other positioning system. Moreover, triangulation techniques for use in e.g. mobile phone tracking may be used or any other technology for establishing a geographical location. After detecting the geographical location the next step S3 it to display the detected geographical location on the map 20 on the display 151. The geographical location may be displayed in any manner detectable for a driver, e.g. by a digital pin, a flashing dot, a graphical logo or anything else indicating the geographical location.

The next step S4 illustrated in Fig. 2 is to enable the first driver 102 to draw directions on the touch screen from the first geographical location to a second geographical location on the map 20. As mentioned above, the drawing of the direction may be done by means of a finger or stylus or equivalent.

Moreover, as illustrated in the optional step S5, the drawing may be facilitated by proposing an already driven route to the driver. The route may be driven by the first driver 102 or by another driver. It may even be driven by a plurality of other drivers, thus generated based on statistical data.

Further, the next optional step S6 is that the drawn direction is evaluated and, if needed, adjusted to coincide with a relevant road. The relevancy of the road may be asses with a multitude of factors, such as the size of the road, the direction of the traffic of the road, the general extension of the road and other any other relevant criterion. With this function, the driver would experience a "snap-to-streets" function which would improve both the experience and the clarity of the directions, hence facilitate for the second driver to understand the directions and follow them more accurately.

The next step S7 illustrated in Fig. 2 is the step of providing the map 20 comprising the directions 10 to a second driver 102. This may be conducted, as described above in relation to Fig. 1 , by means of a peer-to-peer connection. It may also be conducted by means of a central connection, such as a connection via internet and/or a local area network.

Moreover, the last optional step S8, as illustrated in Fig. 2, is enabling the drivers to communicate. It may be a one-way communication in either direction. It may also be a two-way communication between the drivers. The communication may also be conducted by means of a peer-to-peer connection or by means of a central connection as discussed above.

Moreover, the communication may be written communication and/or oral communication.

Fig. 3 shows a map 20 with the vehicles 102, 104, 106, 108, 110 distributed as described earlier. Although the description in general describes how a first driver 102 provides instructions to a second driver 104, in this specific embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the third driver 106 is the one providing the directions to the second driver 104.

The third driver 106 is traveling in a southeast direction on SR 99 towards Bakersfield. The map 20 in Fig. 3 displays a scenario when an accident has happened on SR 99 just outside Fresno, resulting in long traffic queues on the SR 99. The third driver 106 avoided the traffic queues by choosing an alternative route west of SR 99. Further, third driver 106, has drawn a direction of the route he took to avoid traffic, which was subsequently sent to second driver 104. Thereby, the second driver 104 may follow the directions to avoid the traffic queue, although the second driver 104 did not know about the alternative route. It may be so that the third driver 106 manually drew the direction, or he may, as described above, have chosen a proposed direction along the path which he (or someone else) had driver driven.

Moreover, it is possible that the third driver 106 provided the direction directly to the second driver 104, or that he provided it by means of a geomessage, which the second (and other) driver 104 may pick up.

In one embodiment, as shown in fig 4, the first driver 102 may draw the directions on a hand held device 150. In this specific embodiment, the hand held device 150 comprises a touch screen 151 allowing the first driver 102 to draw the directions 10 and control the device with the hand 152. Moreover, a second driver 104 may be able to receive the directions on a similar hand held device 150, and further to choose a desired direction by means of by e.g. voice commands or a digital/physical button.

However, although the example in Fig. 4 shows a hand held device 150, the direction may be drawn and/or displayed on any type of device capable of displaying an image, e.g. a vehicle integrated monitor, portable monitor, hand held device, a tablet, smart phone, computer, Head-up display (HUD), GPS unit or equivalent.

Even though the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplifying embodiments thereof, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled addressee in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. For example, the invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few

embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by the skilled addressee, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims. For example, the invention is also applicable for cars, buses, dumpers, wheel loaders and other type of vehicles than the above described truck.

In the claims, the word "comprises" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single computer or other unit may fulfil the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.