APPARATUSES, METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAMS FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION RELATED TO A LOCATION OF A VEHICLE AND FOR PROVIDING LOCATION INFORMATION RELATED TO ONE OR MORE WAITING VEHICLES

Abstract

 Embodiments relate to apparatuses, methods and computer programs for providing information related to a location of a vehicle and for providing location information related to one or more waiting vehicles. The information related to the location indicates, that the vehicle is a personal vehicle waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle. The method for providing information related to a location of a vehicle comprises determining (110) an activation status of a warning function of the vehicle, wherein the warning function comprises an active state and an inactive state. The warning function being set to an active state indicates that the vehicle is waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle. The method further comprises determining (120) the location of the vehicle. The method further comprises transmitting (130) the information related to the location of the vehicle if the warning function is active.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to apparatuses, methods and computer programs for providing information related to a location of a vehicle and for providing location information related to one or more waiting vehicles, more precisely, but not exclusively, to warning other traffic participants to be cautions in the presence of vehicles waiting for passengers to get into or out of their vehicles.

[0002] The development of warning mechanisms for vehicles with the intention of warning a conductor of the vehicle of potentially dangerous traffic situations is a field of research and development. For example, vehicle sensors may be used to detect other people or vehicles that are hard to see due to traffic. Furthermore, vehicles may warn other vehicles of dangerous traffic situations using Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) direct communication, e.g. to warn other drivers of accidents in the vicinity.

[0003] In US Patent 6 690 291, Radio Frequency (RF) warning signals are used to warn motorists nearby of hazardous situations, e.g. by having emergency vehicles transmit a RF warning signal which can be received by vehicles nearby and which may be used to warn other drivers.

[0004] In Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication, special vehicles, e.g. emergency vehicles or public transport vehicles are indicated as senders of wireless messages by a pre-defined vehicle type. If a V2V-message is sent by such a vehicle, additional information can be added to indicate that these vehicles are currently to be given preference in traffic. Furthermore, other vehicles may be warned of a presence of public transport vehicles.

[0005] There may be a desire for an improved warning concept, in which conductors of vehicles may be warned of potentially dangerous traffic situations.

[0006] Embodiments are based on the finding that there are situations, where vulnerable road users (VRUs) are exposed to potentially dangerous road scenes. For example, when children are brought to a place with a high amount of road traffic, e.g. to a school, they might be overlooked by other drivers. According to embodiments, drivers of personal vehicles transporting such as vulnerable road users may be given an option to broadcast their location to other vehicles in the vicinity, which may thus be warned that vulnerable road users are close to them, so extra caution may be applied.

[0007] Embodiments provide a method for providing information related to a location of a vehicle. The information related to the location indicates that the vehicle is waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle. The method comprises determining an activation status of a warning function of the vehicle. The warning function comprises an active state and an inactive state. The warning function being set to an active state indicates that the vehicle is waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle. The method further comprises determining the location of the vehicle. The method further comprises transmitting the information related to the location of the vehicle if the warning function is active. Being able to transmit location information indicating that a personal vehicle is waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle may make transporting vulnerable road users, e.g. children, more secure, as other road users may be made aware of them getting in or out of the personal vehicle. For example, warning lights or sounds might be provided to the drivers of vehicles in the vicinity of the personal vehicle.

[0008] In some embodiments, the method further comprises changing the activation status of the warning function based on a user input of a user of the vehicle. For example, the user input may be based on a state of a toggle of the vehicle. The user input may be based on an activation of a hazard flasher of the vehicle. Giving a driver of such a vehicle the option to activate the warning function may enable a fine-grained operation of the warning function, e.g. so the information is only transmitted if a potentially dangerous situation is currently present.

[0009] In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving a waiting area beacon signal. The method may comprise changing the activation status of the warning function to active based on the received waiting area beacon signal. For example, the waiting area beacon signal may be deployed around sensitive areas, e.g. around schools, and the warning function may be (automatically) activated if the personal vehicle is within an area defined by the waiting area beacon signal. This may reduce or avoid incorrect or inconsistent operation of the warning function and may facilitate an operation of the warning function for the driver of the personal vehicle.

[0010] In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining whether the location of the vehicle is within a waiting area based on information related to a location of a plurality of waiting areas. The method may further comprise changing the activation status of the warning function to active if the location of the vehicle is within a waiting area. For example, the personal vehicle may comprise the information related to the location of the plurality of waiting areas, or the information related to the plurality of waiting areas may be accessed via a mobile communication network. This may also reduce or avoid incorrect or inconsistent operation of the warning function and may facilitate an operation of the warning function for the driver of the personal vehicle.

[0011] In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining, whether a passenger door of the vehicle is open. The information related to the location of the vehicle might be transmitted if a passenger door of the vehicle is open. Transmitting the information related to the location of the vehicle if the passenger door is open may further reduce incorrect or inconsistent operation of the warning function.

[0012] In embodiments, the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted using a wireless communication channel. For example, the information related to the location of the vehicle may be transmitted using a vehicular communication protocol. The information related to the location of the vehicle may be transmitted to a plurality of vehicles. The information related to the location of the vehicle may be transmitted to a stationary relay station or to a base station of a cellular mobile communication system. Transmitting the information related to the location of the vehicle using a wireless communication channel, e.g. using a vehicular communication protocol, may enable broadcasting the information related to the location of the vehicle to other vehicles in the vicinity of the transmitting vehicle. If the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted to a stationary relay station, it can be relayed to other vehicles near the relay station and might be compiled with location information of other vehicles.

[0013] Embodiments further provide a method for providing location information related to one or more waiting vehicles. The method comprises receiving information related to a location from one or more vehicles. The information related to the location indicates that the one or more vehicles are personal vehicles waiting for a passenger to get into or out of the one or more vehicles. The method further comprises compiling the location information related to the one or more waiting vehicles based on the information related to the location of the one or more vehicles and based on a pre-defined range. The method further comprises providing the location information to a plurality of vehicles. Compiling the location information for the plurality of vehicles may reduce a processing load at the plurality of vehicles, as the plurality of vehicles might only have to process the location information and not the individual information related to the location of the individual vehicles. Furthermore, conflicting information may be avoided.

[0014] In embodiments, the location information may be provided to the plurality of vehicles using a wireless communication channel. The location information may be provided to the plurality of vehicles by a stationary relay station. A stationary relay station, e.g. a roadside station of a vehicular communication protocol, may be used to coordinate and compile the location information around potentially hazardous areas, e.g. at schools. Alternatively, the location information may be provided to the plurality of vehicles by a base station of a cellular mobile communication system. Resources at a base station may be used to compile the location information, which may avoid the necessity of a dedicated stationary relay station to be present around potentially hazardous areas. Alternatively, the location information may be provided to the plurality of vehicles by a vehicle, e.g. to relay the location information of vehicles too far apart for direct communication and to enable transmitting of the information related to the location of the vehicles with a reduced signal power.

[0015] In at least some embodiments, the information related to a location from one or more vehicles is received via a vehicular communication protocol. Using a vehicular communication protocol may enable a direct communication among vehicles and/or among vehicles and stationary relay stations/base stations.

[0016] In at least some embodiments, e.g. if the method is performed by a stationary relay station or a base station, the method may further comprise providing a waiting area beacon signal. The information related to the location may be received in response to the waiting area beacon signal for at least a subset of the one or more vehicles. This may reduce or avoid incorrect or inconsistent operation of the warning function and may facilitate an operation of the warning function for the driver of the personal vehicle.

[0017] In some embodiments, the compiling of the location information may comprise determining a map of waiting vehicles. The map may be displayed by the plurality vehicles or to pedestrians, e.g. to facilitate identifying the vehicles waiting for passengers.

[0018] Embodiments further provide a computer program having a program code for performing at least one of the methods, when the computer program is executed on a computer, a processor, or a programmable hardware component.

[0019] Embodiments further provide an apparatus for providing information related to a location of a vehicle. The information related to the location indicates that the vehicle is waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle. The apparatus comprises at least one communication module and a control module. The control module is configured to determine an activation status of a warning function of the vehicle. The warning function comprises an active state and an inactive state. The warning function being set to an active state indicates that the vehicle is waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle. The control module is further configured to determine the location of the vehicle. The control module is further configured to transmit the information related to the location of the vehicle via the at least one communication module if the warning function is active.

[0020] Embodiments further provide an apparatus for providing location information related to one or more waiting vehicles. The apparatus comprises at least one communication module for receiving information related to a location from one or more vehicles. The information related to the location indicates that the one or more vehicles are personal vehicles waiting for a passenger to get into or out of the one or more vehicles. The apparatus further comprises a control module configured to obtain the information related to the location via the at least one communication module. The control module is further configured to compile the location information related to the one or more waiting vehicles based on the information related to the location of the one or more vehicles and based on a pre-defined range. The control module is further configured to provide the location information to a plurality of vehicles.

[0021] Embodiments further provide a vehicle comprising one or both of the apparatuses. Embodiments further provide a base station or a stationary relay station comprise the apparatus for providing the location information related to the one or more waiting vehicles. Embodiments further provide a vehicle configured to receive the information related to the location of the vehicle and/or to receive the location information, and to provide a warning signal to a driver of the vehicle based on the information related to the location of the vehicle and/or based on the location information.

[0022] Some other features or aspects will be described using the following non-limiting embodiments of apparatuses or methods or computer programs or computer program products by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Fig. 1a and 1b

show flow charts of embodiments of a method for providing information related to a location of a vehicle;

Fig. 2

shows a block diagram of an embodiment of an apparatus for providing information related to a location of a vehicle;

Fig. 3

shows a flow chart of an embodiment of a method for providing location information related to one or more waiting vehicles;

Fig. 4

shows a block diagram of an embodiment of an apparatus for providing location information related to one or more waiting vehicles; and

Fig. 5a - 5c

show block diagrams of embodiments of a stationary relay station, a base station or a vehicle comprising an apparatus for providing location information related to one or more waiting vehicles.

[0023] Various example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are illustrated. In the figures, the thicknesses of lines, layers or regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Optional components may be illustrated using broken, dashed or dotted lines.

[0024] Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention. Like numbers refer to like or similar elements throughout the description of the figures.

[0025] As used herein, the term, "or" refers to a non-exclusive or, unless otherwise indicated (e.g., "or else" or "or in the alternative"). Furthermore, as used herein, words used to describe a relationship between elements should be broadly construed to include a direct relationship or the presence of intervening elements unless otherwise indicated. For example, when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, the element may be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Similarly, words such as "between", "adjacent", and the like should be interpreted in a like fashion.

[0026] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes" or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components or groups thereof.

[0027] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0028] In order to increase the safety of traffic participants, a number of Vehicle-2-Everything (V2X) technologies have been developed over the past years. Using V2X communications technologies, like IEEE 802.11p (a standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) or Cellular V2X, a number of applications may be tested. Many V2X-applications are based on the principle that vehicles disseminate their current position and a number of other data elements like speed, driving direction, etc. When an exceptional situation occurs, the vehicles may also disseminate this information on their environment, warning the other participants in traffic about the exceptional situation. Special vehicles, like ambulances or fire fighting vehicles may announce their position to the vehicles around them in order to indicate that they are special vehicles and increase the awareness of the drivers to them. This may be helpful since the special vehicles can be seen or perceived from further away and the drivers can move out of their way.

[0029] In a similar way, the presence of public transport vehicles may be disseminated in order to allow other participants to adapt their behavior. Traffic infrastructure, like traffic lights, can better plan their phases based on this information. However, the vehicles that are used for example for transporting disabled persons, or children on the way to and from school might be neither special vehicles, nor public transport vehicles (but e.g. personal vehicles). Their presence alone in the traffic may be nothing special, but when children for example are coming out of the vehicle, a potentially dangerous situation can occur. This may be especially important considering that these vehicles travel in residential areas where both vulnerable road users (VRUs) and motorized vehicles may come very close to each other. Making the other vehicles aware that children, or other VRUs, are in the area may increase the safety of all traffic participants.

[0030] At least some embodiments may use V2X communication to announce the presence of (personal or non-public) school buses (e.g. the personal vehicle), or vehicles transporting VRUs, in a similar way as currently done for special vehicles. This status (e.g. information related to a location of a vehicle as introduced in connection with Figs. 1-5), that VRUs are coming out of the school bus, must/might not be continuously disseminated, but only when for example the doors of the vehicle are open. This would indicate to the vehicles nearby that the risk of children on the street, or other VRUs, may be increased, and the drivers may act accordingly.

[0031] The existing V2X-messages, like Cooperative Awareness Message (CAM) or Basic Safety Message (BSM) may be extended to include an additional type of vehicle, the (personal) school-bus type. This might be implemented as a sub-code of the existing public-transport, or by creating a new vehicle type all together for CAM, or in case of the BSM by extending the DF_VehicleStatus in a similar way. Both options may be valid for both types of messages.

[0032] When the vehicle is normally in traffic, it may disseminate its status as a normal vehicle, but when "loading or unloading" the special status of (personal/non-public) school bus may be assumed (and the information related to the location of the vehicle transmitted). In a similar way, a Decentralized Environmental Notification Message (DENM) may be disseminated in order to indicate this special situation when VRUs are "loading or unloading". This may be implemented as a special type of DENM event with a relevance area around the SchoolBus vehicle. This might not change the type of the vehicle (in a CAM or BSM) but simply indicate that children or VRUs are in the area.

[0033] Not just the V2X communication technologies might be used for the Connected-SchoolBus Warning, but also cellular-based technologies like 4G and 5G in combination with Mobile-Edge-Cloud (e.g. at a base station as introduced in the following). A Mobile-Edge-Cloud may monitor the vehicles acting as school buses (e.g. by compiling location information as introduced in connection with Figs. 1-5) within a predefined geographic area (e.g. within a range as introduced in connection with Figs. 1-5) and inform the other vehicles about their position (e.g. by transmitted the location information). Each vehicle receiving this kind of information might then compare the position of the SchoolBus with their own position and inform the driver that a school bus is loading or unloading passengers/VRUs. This may basically indicate to the other drivers to increase their awareness when driving around a vehicle serving as school bus since there may be a high probability that vulnerable road users might also be around it.

[0034] Fig. 1a and 1b show flow charts of embodiments of a method for providing information related to a location of a vehicle 100. The information related to the location indicates that the vehicle is a personal vehicle waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle. The method comprises determining 110 an activation status of a warning function of the vehicle. The warning function comprises an active state and an inactive state. The warning function being set to an active state indicates that the vehicle is waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle. The method further comprises determining 120 the location of the vehicle. The method further comprises transmitting 130 the information related to the location of the vehicle if the warning function is active.

[0035] Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a corresponding apparatus 10 for providing information related to a location of a vehicle 100. The apparatus 10 comprises at least one communication module 12 and a control module 14. The control module 14 is configured to determine the activation status of the warning function of the vehicle. The control module 14 is further configured to determine the location of the vehicle. The control module 14 is configured to transmit the information related to the location of the vehicle via the at least one communication module if the warning function is active. If not otherwise specified, the control module 14 may be configured to perform the method steps of the method described in connection with Figs. 1a and 1b. Fig. 2 further shows the vehicle 100 comprising the apparatus 10.

[0036] The following description relates to both the method of Figs. 1a and 1b and the apparatus 10 of Fig. 2.

[0037] Embodiments are based on providing a location and a warning indicator of personal vehicles waiting for passengers to get in or out to other vehicles. Thus, the information related to the location of the vehicle 100 may comprise location information of the vehicle 100, and may further comprise information related to the vehicle 100 being a personal vehicle waiting for passengers to get in or out of the (personal) vehicle. For example, the information related to the location of the vehicle may comprise coordinates of the vehicle, e.g. coordinates of a positioning system. The information related to the location of the vehicle may further indicate that the vehicle 100 is a personal vehicle, e.g. not a public transportation vehicle and/or not an emergency vehicle. For example, if the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted 130 using a vehicular communication protocol, the type of the vehicle may be "basicVehicle". In at least some embodiments, the (personal) vehicle is an automobile or a car, e.g. a van, a minivan, a minibus, a station wagon, a sub-urban vehicle (SUV) or another vehicle having one or more passenger seats. In some embodiments, the (personal) vehicle may be a vehicle for transporting disabled persons, e.g. a car for disabled people or a handicap vehicle.

[0038] The information related to the location indicates that the vehicle is a personal vehicle waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle. For example, the information related to the location may indicate that the (personal) vehicle is standing (e.g. not moving), temporarily parking or currently stationary. The information related to the location may indicate, that the vehicle is waiting for a vulnerable road user (e.g. a child or a disabled person) to get in or out of the vehicle, e.g. to embark or disembark the vehicle. In at least some embodiments, the information related to the location indicates to other vehicles to exercise caution when driving, e.g. to spot and bear in mind persons (e.g. VRUs) getting in or out of the vehicle. In at least some embodiments, the information related to the location may indicate, that one or more passenger doors of the vehicle are open or have been opened recently (e.g. within a pre-defined timespan before a current point in time).

[0039] The method comprises determining 110 an activation status of a warning function of the vehicle. In at least some embodiments, the warning function is a function that enables a driver to transmit the information related to the location of the vehicle. The warning function may be based on transmitting (e.g. broadcasting) the information related to the location of the vehicle to vehicles in a vicinity of the vehicle. In at least some embodiments, using the warning function may require a license. The license may indicate an authorization of the vehicle or of a driver of the vehicle to transmit the information related to the location of the vehicle. For example, the license may be based on a cryptographic certificate. In some embodiments, the information related to the location of the vehicle comprise information related to the license, e.g. the cryptographic certificate or a value derived from the cryptographic certificate. In at least some embodiments, the warning function is activated by a user of the vehicle. Alternatively, the warning function may be automatically activated, e.g. based on a location of the vehicle or based on the waiting area beacon signal. In some embodiments, the warning function may only be active or activated by a user of the vehicle, if the vehicle receives the waiting area beacon signal or if the location of the vehicle is within a waiting area.

[0040] The warning function comprises an active state and an inactive state. For example, the warning function may be active, and the vehicle (e.g. the control module 14) may transmit 130 the information related to the location of the vehicle. Alternatively, the warning function may be inactive, e.g. disabled by a driver of the vehicle or inactive as the vehicle is outside a waiting area as indicated by information related to a location of a plurality of waiting areas or by a waiting area beacon signal. In at least some embodiments, the activation status may be controllable independently from an activation status of the vehicle. For example, the activation status of the warning function might not be linked to the vehicle driving or to a motor of the vehicle running. In some embodiments, if the motor of the vehicle is off, the warning function might not be inactive by default. For example, the warning function may be a user-activated warning function. In at least some embodiments, if the warning function is set to an inactive state, the information related to the location of the vehicle may/might not be transmitted 130.

[0041] The warning function being set to an active state indicates that the vehicle is (currently) waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle. For example, the warning function being set to an active state may indicate that the vehicle is waiting for a vulnerable road user to get into or to get out of the vehicle. The warning function being set to an active state may indicate that one or more passenger doors of the vehicle are open. The warning function being set to an active state may indicate that the vehicle is being used to transport one or more vulnerable road users. In at least some embodiments, the warning function might only be set to an active state at pre-defined times, e.g. on weekdays before and after school.

[0042] In various embodiments, as shown in Fig. 1b, the method further comprises changing 140 the activation status of the warning function, e.g. from active to inactive or from inactive to active. For example, the method may further comprise changing 140 the activation status of the warning function based on a user input of a user of the vehicle. For example, the user input may be one of a press of a button, an activation of a toggle, a press of a button in a touch screen interface, a voice command or inserting a digital key into an interface. In some embodiments, the user input may be based on a state of a toggle of the vehicle. A user of the vehicle may change the state of the toggle (e.g. from pressed to un-pressed, from up to down etc.) to change 140 the activation status of the warning function. For example, the user input may be based on an activation of a hazard flasher of the vehicle. If the hazard flasher is activated, the activation status of the warning function may be changed 140 to active. In at least some embodiments, the activation status may be changed 140 based on the user input if a further condition is met, e.g. if a waiting area beacon signal is received or if the location of the vehicle is within a waiting area.

[0043] In at least some embodiments, as shown in Fig. 1b, the method further comprises receiving 150 the waiting area beacon signal. For example, the waiting area beacon signal may be a signal, e.g. an RF (Radio Frequency) signal indicating the presence of a waiting area for personal vehicles and/or public transportation vehicles. For example, the waiting area beacon signal may indicate an area, in which personal vehicles are intended to wait for passengers, e.g. vulnerable road users, to get into or out of the personal vehicles. In some embodiments, a range of the waiting area may be based on a range of the waiting area beacon signal, e.g. defined by an attenuation of the waiting area beacon signal. Alternatively, the waiting area beacon signal may comprise information related to a range of or to an area comprising the waiting area, e.g. information related to a radius of the waiting area or information related to coordinates of the waiting area. In some embodiments, the waiting area beacon signal may be based on a vehicular communication standard/vehicular communication protocol. The terms vehicular communication standard and vehicular communication protocol may be used interchangeably in this document.

[0044] For example, the waiting area beacon signal may be implemented as a Basic Safety Message (BSM) or as a Decentralized Environmental Notification Message (DENM) of a vehicular communication standard/vehicular communication protocol. For example, the vehicular communication standard may be based on IEEE (Institute of Electrical or Electronics Engineers) 802.11p. The vehicular communication standard may be based on European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) standard TS 102 637. The waiting area beacon signal may be received via one or more Car-to-Car (C2C), Car-to-X (C2X). Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) or Vehicle-to-X (V2X) messages, e.g. from a stationary relay station (e.g. stationary relay station 200a of Fig. 5a) or from a base station (e.g. base station 200b of Fig. 5b). In some embodiments, the waiting area beacon signal may be directly received from the stationary relay station. Alternatively, the waiting area beacon signal may be received via a cellular mobile communication system. In general, the cellular mobile communication system may, for example, correspond to one of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-standardized mobile communication networks, where the term cellular mobile communication system is used synonymously to mobile communication network. The cellular mobile or wireless communication system may correspond to, for example, a 5th Generation system (5G), a Long-Term Evolution (LTE), an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) or a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), an evolved-UTRAN (e-UTRAN), a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) or Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) network, a GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), or cellular mobile communication networks with different standards, for example, a Worldwide Inter-operability for Microwave Access (WIMAX) network IEEE 802.16 or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) IEEE 802.11, generally an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) network, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Wideband-CDMA (WCDMA) network, a Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) network, a Spatial Division Multiple Access (SDMA) network, etc.

[0045] The method may further comprise changing 140 the activation status of the warning function to active based on the received 150 waiting area beacon signal. For example, if the waiting area beacon signal is received 150, the activation status of the warning function may be set to active. If the waiting area beacon signal is received 150 and the waiting area beacon signal indicates that the location of the vehicle 100 is within a waiting area the activation status of the warning function may be set to active. In some embodiments, a further condition may have to be met. For example, the activation status of the warning function may be changed 140 to active if the waiting area beacon signal is received and if the waiting area beacon signal indicates that the location of the vehicle 100 is within a waiting area and/or if the activation status of the warning function is changed 140 based on a user input of a user of the vehicle.

[0046] In at least some embodiments, as further shown in Fig. 1b, the method further comprises determining 160 whether the location of the vehicle is within a waiting area based on information related to a location of a plurality of waiting areas. For example, the information related to the location of the plurality of waiting areas may be stored using a local storage module. For example, the apparatus 10 may comprise a storage module. The information related to the location of the plurality of waiting areas may be a database or a data structure stored on the storage module. Alternatively, the information related to the location of the plurality of waiting areas may be accessed via a cellular mobile communication system, e.g. based on the location of the vehicle 100. For example, the information related to the location of the plurality of waiting areas may comprise information related to a range or information related to an area comprising the plurality of waiting areas. In some embodiments, the method may comprise locally determining 160, whether the location of the vehicle is within a waiting area based on the information related to the location of the plurality of waiting areas. Alternatively, the determining 160 may comprise transmitting a location (e.g. an abstracted version of the location) of the vehicle 100 to a server, and receive information related to whether the vehicle is located within a waiting area or information related to nearby waiting areas from the server. Alternatively, the information related to the plurality of waiting areas may be received via the waiting area beacon signal, e.g. indicating waiting areas nearby. The method may further comprise changing 140 the activation status of the warning function to active if the location of the vehicle is within a waiting area. For example, the method may comprise comparing the location of the vehicle with the waiting area, e.g. to determine whether the location of the vehicle is within an area comprising the waiting area or within a range indicated by the waiting area.

[0047] In various examples, the location of the vehicle may be determined 120 based on a positioning module. For example, as further shown in Fig. 2, the apparatus 10 may comprise the positioning module 16. The positioning module 16 may be implemented as any component that allows for a determination of information related to a position of the vehicle 100 or of the positioning module. For example, the positioning module may comprise a receiver component for satellite-based positioning systems, e.g. a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, or other components, that enable a positioning of the vehicle/positioning module based on a triangulation of radio frequency signals. For example, the location of the vehicle may be determined 120 based on satellite-based positioning system e.g. GPS, GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) or Galileo. For example, the location of the vehicle may correspond to coordinates of the vehicle 100 within a geographic coordinate system, within a reference framework of a satellite-based positioning system, or within a reference framework of a vehicular communication standard, e.g. relative to a road structure or relative to a stationary relay station. Alternatively, the location of the vehicle might (only) indicate, that the vehicle is located within the waiting area. If the vehicle receives the waiting area beacon signal, the location of the vehicle may indicate that the vehicle is within the waiting area associated with the waiting area beacon signal.

[0048] The method further comprises transmitting 130 the information related to the location of the vehicle if the warning function is active. In various embodiments, the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted 130 using a wireless communication channel. For example, the wireless communication channel may be based on a vehicular communication protocol/vehicular communication standard. The wireless communication channel may be a wireless vehicular communication channel. The information related to the location of the vehicle may be transmitted 130 using a vehicular communication protocol, e.g. based on a vehicular communication standard. For example, the information related to the location of the vehicle may be transmitted as a Cooperative Awareness Message (CAM), as a DENM or as a BSM of the vehicular communication standard. Alternatively, the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted 130 via a cellular mobile communication network, e.g. to or via a base station of the cellular mobile communication network.

[0049] In various embodiments, the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted 130 to a plurality of vehicles, e.g. to vehicles within or near the waiting area. For example, the plurality of vehicles may be chosen based on the waiting area. Alternatively, the information related to the location of the vehicle may comprise information related to a validity of the information related to the location of the vehicle, e.g. wherein the information related to the validity defines, in which range (e.g. around the vehicle 100) the information related to the location is relevant. Alternatively, the plurality of vehicles may be based on a coverage area of wireless transmissions of the vehicle 100, e.g. of the at least one communication module 12. In some embodiments, the information related to the location of the vehicle may be transmitted 130 to the plurality of vehicles via a stationary relay station or via a base station of a cellular mobile communication system.

[0050] For example, the information related to the location of the vehicle may be transmitted 130 to a stationary relay station or to a base station of a cellular mobile communication system. At the stationary relay station or at the base station, the information related to the location of the vehicle of a plurality of vehicles may be compiled, as shown in connection with Figs. 3 to 5. Alternatively, the information related to the location of the vehicle may be transmitted 130 to the stationary relay station or to the base station for the information related to the location of the vehicle to be relayed to the plurality of vehicles.

[0051] In some embodiments, as further shown in Fig. 1b, the method further comprises determining 170, whether a passenger door of the vehicle is open. In some embodiments, any door of the vehicle (for humans) except the driver door of the vehicle may be the passenger door. For example, the apparatus 10 may comprise or be coupled to one or more door sensor modules. The control module 14 may be configured to determine, whether the passenger door of the vehicle is open based on the one or more door sensor modules. The door sensor modules may comprise one or more optical or electrical sensors, configured to sense, whether a passenger door is open. The information related to the location of the vehicle may be transmitted 130 if a/the passenger door of the vehicle is open. For example, the information related to the location of the vehicle may be transmitted 130 if the activation status of the warning function is set to active and if a passenger door of the vehicle is open and/or if a passenger door of the vehicle has been open, e.g. within a pre-defined timespan, for example within the last 30s.

[0052] The at least one communication module 12 (and/or at least one communication module 22 introduced in connection with Fig. 4) may be or comprise a wireless communication module. The at least communication module 12; 22 may be implemented as any means for (wirelessly) transceiving, i.e. receiving and/or transmitting etc., one or more (wireless) communication units, one or more wireless communication devices and it may comprise typical receiver and/or transmitter components, such as one or more elements of the group of one or more Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAs), one or more Power Amplifiers (PAs), one or more filters or filter circuitry, one or more diplexers, one or more duplexers, one or more Analog-to-Digital converters (A/D), one or more Digital-to-Analog converters (D/A), one or more modulators or demodulators, one or more mixers, one or more antennas, etc. In at least some embodiments, the at least one communication module 12; 22 is configured to communicate via a vehicular communication network, e.g. via a Car-to-Car (C2C), Car-to-X (C2X). Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) or Vehicle-to-X (V2X) communication network, e.g. based on the vehicular communication standard. The at least one communication module 12; 22 may be configured to communicate directly with (other) vehicles, e.g. the plurality of vehicles, i.e. without involving any base station transceiver, which, if the method is performed by a vehicle, is also referred to as Device-to-Device (D2D) communication. In some embodiments, the communication may be aided by a base station transceiver. In order to do so radio resources are used, e.g. frequency, time, code, and/or spatial resources, which may as well be used for wireless communication with a base station transceiver. The assignment of the radio resources may be controlled by the base station transceiver, i.e. the determination which resources are used for D2D and which are not, or the assignment of the radio resource is determined by the (vehicular) communication protocol, e.g. if the resources are not shared with a cellular communication network. The at least one communication module 12; 22 may be configured to communicate via the cellular mobile communication system.

[0053] In embodiments the control module 14 (and/or a control module 24 of Fig. 4) may be implemented using one or more processing units, one or more processing devices, any means for processing, such as a processor, a computer or a programmable hardware component being operable with accordingly adapted software. In other words, the described function of the control module 14; 24 may as well be implemented in software, which is then executed on one or more programmable hardware components. Such hardware components may comprise a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a micro-controller, etc. The control module 14 is coupled to the at least one communication module 12 and to the positioning module 16, and the control module 24 is coupled to the at least one communication module 22.

[0054] Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of a method for providing location information related to one or more waiting vehicles. The method comprises receiving 210 information related to a location from one or more vehicles (e.g. from a plurality of information). The information related to the location indicates, that the one or more vehicles are personal vehicles are waiting for a passenger to get into or out of the one or more (personal) vehicles. The method further comprises compiling 220 the location information related to the one or more waiting vehicles based on the information related to the location of the one or more vehicles and based on a pre-defined range. The method further comprises providing 230 the location information to a plurality of vehicles.

[0055] Fig. 4 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a corresponding apparatus 20 for providing location information related to one or more waiting vehicles. The apparatus 20 comprises at least one communication module 22 for receiving the information related to a location from the one or more vehicles. The apparatus 20 further comprises a control module 24 configured to obtain the information related to the location via the at least one communication module 22. The control module 24 is further configured to compile the location information related to the one or more waiting vehicles based on the information related to the location of the one or more vehicles and based on the pre-defined range. The control module 24 is further configured to provide the location information to a plurality of vehicles via the at least one communication module 22. If not otherwise specified, the control module 24 may be configured to perform the method steps of the method described in connection with Fig. 3.

[0056] The following description relates to both the method of Fig. 3 and the apparatus 20 of Fig. 4, and to the stationary relay station, base station and vehicle introduced in connection with Figs. 5a to 5c.

[0057] In various embodiments, the location information related to the one or more waiting vehicles may comprise the location of the one or more vehicles, e.g. as coordinates in a coordinate system. Alternatively, the location information may comprise an abstracted version of the location of the one or more vehicles, e.g. the location information may indicate sectors comprising the one or more vehicles. For example, the location information may comprise one or more (e.g. a plurality) of coordinates of vehicles, or one or more (e.g. a plurality) of coordinates or identifiers of sectors comprising the one or more vehicles. In some embodiments, the location information might indicate a general presence of waiting vehicles within a waiting area, e.g. without specific coordinates of individual vehicles. In various embodiments, the location information may comprise information related to a presence of the one or more vehicles within one or more waiting areas, e.g. a presence of the one or more vehicles in a waiting area, or a presence of the one or more vehicles distributed over a plurality of waiting areas.

[0058] In at least some embodiments, the information related to the location of the one or more vehicles may be received directly from the one or more vehicles, e.g. individually from each of the one or more vehicles. For example, the information related to the location of the one or more vehicles may be received directly from one or more personal vehicles. Alternatively, the information related to the location of the one or more vehicles may be received via a stationary relay station or via a base station of a cellular mobile communication network. In various embodiments, the information related to the location of the one or more vehicles is received 210 using a wireless communication channel. For example, the wireless communication channel may be based on a vehicular communication protocol/vehicular communication standard. The wireless communication channel may be a wireless vehicular communication channel. The information related to the location of the one or more vehicles may be received 210 using a vehicular communication protocol, e.g. based on a vehicular communication standard. For example, the information related to the location of the one or more vehicles may be received 210 as a Cooperative Awareness Message (CAM), as a DENM or as a BSM of the vehicular communication standard. Alternatively, the information related to the location of the one o more vehicles is received 210 via a cellular mobile communication network, e.g. to or via a base station of the cellular mobile communication network. The information related to the location of the one or more vehicles may comprise the information related to the location of the vehicle (as defined in connection with Figs. 1a - 2) for each vehicle of the one or more vehicles. The information related to the location of the one or more vehicles may be implemented similar to the information related to the location of the vehicle introduced in connection with Figs. 1a - 2.

[0059] In at least some embodiments, the one or more vehicles may be (personal) vehicles as defined in connection with Figs. 1a - 2. For example, the one or more vehicles may comprise two or more vehicles (e.g. a further plurality of vehicles).

[0060] The method further comprises compiling 220 the location information related to the one or more waiting vehicles. For example, the compiling 220 of the location information comprises selecting/choosing vehicles of the one or more vehicles based on the pre-defined range. For example, the pre-defined range may be the waiting area defined in connection with Figs. 1a - 2. The pre-defined range may be defined as radius around a coordinate. Alternatively, the pre-defined range may be defined as area, e.g. as plurality of coordinates forming a geographic area. Alternatively, the pre-defined range may be defined by a distance, from which the information related to the location of the one or more vehicles can be received, e.g. based on an attenuation of a wireless communication. For example, (all of) the information related to the one or more waiting vehicles may be used for the location information. If the information related to the location of a vehicles is received from a vehicle, said vehicle may be deemed to be within the pre-defined range. The compiling 220 of the location information may comprise determining the locations of the one or more vehicles for the location information. Alternatively, the compiling of the location information may comprise determining, whether a vehicle of the one or more vehicles is waiting within a waiting area. The location information may indicate, whether a vehicle of the one or more vehicles is waiting within a waiting area. If the location information comprise information related to a plurality of waiting areas, the compiling 220 of the location information may comprise determining for each waiting area of the plurality of waiting areas whether a vehicle of the one or more vehicles is waiting within a waiting area. In some embodiments, the compiling 220 of the location information comprises determining a map of waiting vehicles. For example, the map of waiting vehicles may comprise or indicate the coordinates of at least a subset of the one or more vehicles. For example, the location information may comprise the map of waiting vehicles.

[0061] In embodiments, the location information is provided 230 (e.g. transmitted) to the plurality of vehicles using a wireless communication channel. For example, the wireless communication channel may be based on a vehicular communication protocol/vehicular communication standard. The wireless communication channel may be a wireless vehicular communication channel. The location information may be provided/transmitted 230 using a vehicular communication protocol, e.g. based on a vehicular communication standard. For example, the location information may be transmitted as a Cooperative Awareness Message (CAM), as a DENM or as a BSM of the vehicular communication standard. Alternatively, the information related to the location of the vehicle may be transmitted 230 via a cellular mobile communication network, e.g. to or via a base station of the cellular mobile communication network.

[0062] In at least some embodiments, the plurality of vehicles may be vehicles within or near a waiting area, e.g. vehicles within a pre-defined radius around a waiting area. The plurality of vehicles may comprise the one or more vehicles. The plurality of vehicles may be vehicles to be warned of the personal vehicles waiting for a passenger to get into or out of the one or more vehicles. The plurality of vehicles may be vehicles in a vicinity of the one or more vehicles. In some embodiments, the plurality of vehicles may be chosen on the location of the one or more vehicles. Alternatively, the plurality of vehicles may be vehicles within a coverage area of a wireless communication of a stationary relay station, of a base station, or of a vehicle performing the method, e.g. comprising the apparatus 20.

[0063] Optionally, as indicated by the dashed line in Fig. 3, the method may further comprise providing (e.g. transmitting) 240 a waiting area beacon signal, e.g. to the one or more vehicles, within the pre-defined range, or within the waiting area. The waiting area beacon signal may be implemented similar to the waiting area beacon signal introduced in connection with Figs. 1a -2. The information related to the location may be received 210 in response to the waiting area beacon signal for at least a subset of the one or more vehicles. For example, the one or more vehicles might only be allowed to transmit the information related to the location if they receive the waiting area beacon signal. In some embodiments, the waiting area beacon signal might (only) be provided/transmitted at pre-defined times or dates, e.g. before and after school hours of a school, during weekdays.

[0064] In at least some embodiments, the location information may be provided 230 to the plurality of vehicles by a stationary relay station. For example, the method may be performed by the stationary relay station. Fig. 5a shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a stationary relay station 200a comprising the apparatus 20. For example, a stationary relay station may a roadside station of a vehicular communication network. For example, the stationary relay station may be suitable for receiving wireless messages from vehicles (e.g. the information related to the location of the one or more vehicles) and for transmitting wireless messages to vehicles using a vehicular communication standard/vehicular communication protocol. For example, the stationary relay station may be (permanently or semi-permanently) arranged at the side of a road, e.g. at a school for which a waiting area is defined. The stationary relay station may be configured to receive the information related to the location of the one or more vehicles via direct vehicular communication (e.g. V2X or C2X) messages, and to provide the location information via at least one direct vehicular communication (V2X or C2X) message, e.g. without involving a base station.

[0065] In some embodiments, the location information is provided 230 to the plurality of vehicles by a base station of a cellular mobile communication system. For example, the method may be performed by the base station. Fig. 5b shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a base station 200b of a cellular mobile communication system comprising the apparatus 20. A base station can be located in the fixed or stationary part of the network or system. A base station may correspond to a remote radio head, a transmission point, an access point, radio equipment, a macro cell, a small cell, a micro cell, a femto cell, a metro cell etc. A base station may correspond to a base station understood as a logical concept of a node/entity terminating a radio bearer or connectivity over the air interface between a terminal/mobile transceiver and a radio access network. A base station can be a wireless interface of a wired network, which enables transmission of radio signals to a UE or mobile transceiver. Such a radio signal may comply with radio signals as, for example, standardized by 3GPP or, generally, in line with one or more of the above listed systems. Thus, a base station may correspond to a NodeB, an eNodeB, a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), an access point, a remote radio head, a transmission point, a relay transceiver etc., which may be further subdivided in a remote unit and a central unit. A mobile transceiver (e.g. a vehicle) can be associated, camped on, or registered with a base station transceiver or cell. The base station may be configured to receive the information related to the location of the one or more vehicles from the one or more vehicles and to provide the location information to the plurality of vehicles.

[0066] Alternatively, the location information may be provided 230 to the plurality of vehicles by a vehicle. For example, the vehicle may be a personal vehicle or a public transportation vehicle. For example, the one or more vehicles may choose one of the one or more vehicles to perform the method. The vehicle may perform the method. Fig. 5c shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a vehicle 200c comprising the apparatus 20. In some embodiments, the vehicle 200c may correspond to the vehicle 100. The vehicle 10; 200c may comprise both the apparatus 10 of Fig. 2 and the apparatus 20 of Fig. 4.

[0067] More details and aspects of the method and/or the apparatus are mentioned in connection with the proposed concept or one or more examples described above (e.g. Fig. 1a to 2). The apparatus and/or the method may comprise one or more additional optional features corresponding to one or more aspects of the proposed concept or one or more examples described above or below.

[0068] Embodiments further provide a further apparatus for a further vehicle. The apparatus comprises a communication module, configured to receive the information related to the location of the vehicle and/or the location information related to the one or more vehicle. The apparatus further comprises a control module coupled to the communication module. The apparatus further comprises an output module. The control module is configured to provide a warning signal to a driver of the further vehicle via the output module based on the information related to the location of the vehicle and/or based on the location information related to the one or more vehicles. For example, the warning signal may be an audio warning signal or a visual warning signal. For example, the control module may be configured to determine the warning signal to indicate a location of the vehicle of the information related to the vehicle and/or to indicate the one or more vehicles of the location information to the driver of the vehicle. The communication module may be implemented similar to the communication modules 12; 22 and/or the control module may be implemented similar to the control modules 14; 24.

[0069] Embodiments further provide a corresponding method for the further vehicle. The method comprises receiving the information related to the location of the vehicle and/or the location information related to the one or more vehicles. The method further comprises providing a warning signal to a driver of the further vehicle based on the information related to the location of the vehicle and/or based on the location information related to the one or more vehicles.

[0070] As already mentioned, in embodiments the respective methods may be implemented as computer programs or codes, which can be executed on a respective hardware. Hence, another embodiment is a computer program having a program code for performing at least one of the above methods, when the computer program is executed on a computer, a processor, or a programmable hardware component. A further embodiment is a computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer, processor, or programmable hardware component, cause the computer to implement one of the methods described herein.

[0071] A person of skill in the art would readily recognize that steps of various above-described methods can be performed by programmed computers, for example, positions of slots may be determined or calculated. Herein, some embodiments are also intended to cover program storage devices, e.g., digital data storage media, which are machine or computer readable and encode machine-executable or computer-executable programs of instructions where said instructions perform some or all of the steps of methods described herein. The program storage devices may be, e.g., digital memories, magnetic storage media such as magnetic disks and magnetic tapes, hard drives, or optically readable digital data storage media. The embodiments are also intended to cover computers programmed to perform said steps of methods described herein or (field) programmable logic arrays ((F)PLAs) or (field) programmable gate arrays ((F)PGAs), programmed to perform said steps of the above-described methods.

[0072] The description and drawings merely illustrate the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof. When provided by a processor, the functions may be provided by a single dedicated processor, by a single shared processor, or by a plurality of individual processors, some of which may be shared. Moreover, explicit use of the term "processor" or "controller" should not be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executing software, and may implicitly include, without limitation, Digital Signal Processor (DSP) hardware, network processor, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), read only memory (ROM) for storing software, random access memory (RAM), and non-volatile storage. Other hardware, conventional or custom, may also be included. Their function may be carried out through the operation of program logic, through dedicated logic, through the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually, the particular technique being selectable by the implementer as more specifically understood from the context.

[0073] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any block diagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry embodying the principles of the invention. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudo code, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable medium and so executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown.

[0074] Furthermore, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, where each claim may stand on its own as a separate embodiment. While each claim may stand on its own as a separate embodiment, it is to be noted that - although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims - other embodiments may also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended. Furthermore, it is intended to include also features of a claim to any other independent claim even if this claim is not directly made dependent to the independent claim.

[0075] It is further to be noted that methods disclosed in the specification or in the claims may be implemented by a device having means for performing each of the respective steps of these methods.

List of reference signs

[0076] 

10

Apparatus

12

Communication Module

14

Control Module

16

Positioning Module

20

Apparatus

22

Communication Module

24

Control Module

100

Vehicle

200a

Stationary relay station

200b

Base station

200c

Vehicle

110

Determining an activating status of a warning function

120

Determining a location of a vehicle

130

Transmitting information related to the location

140

Changing the activation status

150

Receiving a waiting area beacon signal

160

Determining, whether the vehicle is within a waiting area

170

Determining, whether a passenger door is open

210

Determining information related to a location of one or more vehicles

220

Compiling location information

230

Providing the location information to a plurality of vehicles

240

Providing a waiting area beacon signal

Claims

1. Method for providing information related to a location of a vehicle (100), wherein the information related to the location indicates, that the vehicle is a personal vehicle waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle, the method comprising:

Determining (110) an activation status of a warning function of the vehicle, wherein the warning function comprises an active state and an inactive state, and wherein the warning function being set to an active state indicates that the vehicle is waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle;

Determining (120) the location of the vehicle; and

Transmitting (130) the information related to the location of the vehicle if the warning function is active.

2. The method according to claim 1, the method further comprising changing (140) the activation status of the warning function based on a user input of a user of the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the user input is based on a state of a toggle of the vehicle,
and/or wherein the user input is based on an activation of a hazard flasher of the vehicle.

4. The method according to one of the previous claims further comprising Receiving (150) a waiting area beacon signal, and changing (140) the activation status of the warning function to active based on the received (150) waiting area beacon signal.

5. The method according to one of the previous claims further comprising determining (160) whether the location of the vehicle is within a waiting area based on information related to a location of a plurality of waiting areas, and changing (140) the activation status of the warning function to active if the location of the vehicle is within a waiting area.

6. The method according to one of the previous claims, wherein the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted (130) using a wireless communication channel, and/or wherein the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted (130) using a vehicular communication protocol,
and/or wherein the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted (130) to a plurality of vehicles,
and/or wherein the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted (130) to a stationary relay station or to a base station of a cellular mobile communication system.

7. The method according to one of the previous claims further comprising Determining (170), whether a passenger door of the vehicle is open, wherein the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted (130) if a passenger door of the vehicle is open.

8. Method for providing location information related to one or more waiting vehicles, the method comprising:

Receiving (210) information related to a location from one or more vehicles, wherein the information related to the location indicates, that the one or more vehicles are personal vehicles waiting for a passenger to get into or out of the one or more vehicles;

Compiling (220) the location information related to the one or more waiting vehicles based on the information related to the location of the one or more vehicles and based on a pre-defined range;

Providing (230) the location information to a plurality of vehicles.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the location information is provided (230) to the plurality of vehicles using a wireless communication channel,
and/or wherein the location information is provided (230) to the plurality of vehicles by a stationary relay station,
and/or wherein the location information is provided (230) to the plurality of vehicles by a base station of a cellular mobile communication system
and/or wherein the location information is provided (230) to the plurality of vehicles by a vehicle.

10. The method according to one of the claims 8 or 9, wherein the information related to a location from one or more vehicles is received (210) via a vehicular communication protocol.

11. The method according to one of the claims 8 to 10, further comprising providing (240) a waiting area beacon signal, wherein the information related to the location is received (210) in response to the waiting area beacon signal for at least a subset of the one or more vehicles.

12. The method according to one of the claims 8 to 11, wherein the Compiling (220) of the location information comprises determining a map of waiting vehicles.

13. A computer program having a program code for performing at least one of the methods according to one of the previous claims, when the computer program is executed on a computer, a processor, or a programmable hardware component.

14. Apparatus (10) for providing information related to a location of a vehicle (100), wherein the information related to the location indicates, that the vehicle is waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle, the apparatus (10) comprising:

at least one communication module (12); and

a control module (14) configured to:

determine an activation status of a warning function of the vehicle, wherein the warning function comprises an active state and an inactive state, and wherein the warning function being set to an active state indicates that the vehicle is waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle;

determine the location of the vehicle; and

transmit the information related to the location of the vehicle via the at least one communication module (12) if the warning function is active.

15. Apparatus (20) for providing location information related to one or more waiting vehicles, the apparatus comprising:

at least one communication module (22) for receiving information related to a location from one or more vehicles, wherein the information related to the location indicates, that the one or more vehicles are personal vehicles waiting for a passenger to get into or out of the one or more vehicles;

a control module (24), configured to:

obtain the information related to the location via the at least one communication module (22),

compile the location information related to the one or more waiting vehicles based on the information related to the location of the one or more vehicles and based on a pre-defined range, and

provide the location information to a plurality of vehicles via the at least one communication module.

Amended claims

Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC.

1. Method for providing information related to a location of a vehicle (100), wherein the information related to the location indicates, that the vehicle is a personal vehicle waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle, the method comprising:

Determining (110) an activation status of a warning function of the vehicle, wherein the warning function comprises an active state and an inactive state, and wherein the warning function being set to an active state indicates that the vehicle is waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle;

Determining (120) the location of the vehicle;

Determining (170), whether a passenger door of the vehicle is open; and

Transmitting (130) the information related to the location of the vehicle to a plurality of vehicles if the warning function is set to active and if the passenger door of the vehicle is open and/or has been open within a predefined timespan.

2. The method according to claim 1, the method further comprising changing (140) the activation status of the warning function based on a user input of a user of the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the user input is based on a state of a toggle of the vehicle,
and/or wherein the user input is based on an activation of a hazard flasher of the vehicle.

4. The method according to one of the previous claims further comprising Receiving (150) a waiting area beacon signal, and changing (140) the activation status of the warning function to active based on the received (150) waiting area beacon signal.

5. The method according to one of the previous claims further comprising determining (160) whether the location of the vehicle is within a waiting area based on information related to a location of a plurality of waiting areas, and changing (140) the activation status of the warning function to active if the location of the vehicle is within a waiting area.

6. The method according to one of the previous claims, wherein the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted (130) using a wireless communication channel, and/or wherein the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted (130) using a vehicular communication protocol,
and/or wherein the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted (130) to a plurality of vehicles,
and/or wherein the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted (130) to a stationary relay station or to a base station of a cellular mobile communication system.

7. A computer program having a program code for performing the method according to one of the previous claims, when the computer program is executed on a computer, a processor, or a programmable hardware component.

8. Apparatus (10) for providing information related to a location of a vehicle (100), wherein the information related to the location indicates, that the vehicle is waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle, the apparatus (10) comprising:

at least one communication module (12); and

a control module (14) configured to:

determine an activation status of a warning function of the vehicle, wherein the warning function comprises an active state and an inactive state, and wherein the warning function being set to an active state indicates that the vehicle is waiting for a passenger to get into or to get out of the vehicle;

determine the location of the vehicle;

Determine, whether a passenger door of the vehicle is open; and

transmit the information related to the location of the vehicle to a plurality of vehicles via the at least one communication module (12) if the warning function is set to active and if the passenger door of the vehicle is open and/or has been open within a predefined timespan .

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control module (14) is configured to change the activation status of the warning function based on a user input of a user of the vehicle.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the user input is based on a state of a toggle of the vehicle,
and/or wherein the user input is based on an activation of a hazard flasher of the vehicle.

11. The apparatus according to one of the claims 8 to 10, wherein the control module (14) is configured to receive a waiting area beacon signal, and to change the activation status of the warning function to active based on the received waiting area beacon signal.

12. The apparatus according to one of the claims 8 to 11, wherein the control module (14) is configured to determine whether the location of the vehicle is within a waiting area based on information related to a location of a plurality of waiting areas, and to change the activation status of the warning function to active if the location of the vehicle is within a waiting area.

13. The apparatus according to one of the claims 8 to 12, wherein the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted using a wireless communication channel, and/or wherein the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted using a vehicular communication protocol,
and/or wherein the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted to a plurality of vehicles,
and/or wherein the information related to the location of the vehicle is transmitted to a stationary relay station or to a base station of a cellular mobile communication system.

Drawing