Patent Publication Number: US-11661785-B2

Title: Handling of remotely triggered operation of a vehicle door

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     This application claims priority to European Application No. 19155584.6 filed Feb. 5, 2019, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to handling of remotely triggered operation of a power door of a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a not too distant future, driverless taxis may be a reality. Eliminating the need for a human chauffeur, which represents a significant part of the operating cost for taxi services, could make it an affordable solution for the customers, and further accelerate the spreading of e.g. Transportation-as-a-Service (TaaS) solutions as opposed to individual car ownership. 
     With driverless taxis, however, challenges arise which are non-present for conventional chauffeur-driven taxis. One such challenge is the potential scenario of a customer i.e. passenger after departing the driverless taxi, leaving a vehicle door left open. With an unclosed vehicle door, the driverless taxi may e.g. be unable to take off and/or the taxi service for said customer may be prevented from being deemed completed. 
     US20170292313 A1, for instance, discloses how an autonomous vehicle may transport users without a human operator in exchange for a fare. However, although US20170292313 A1 suggests improvements when it comes to closing of a vehicle power door and subsequently determining that a ride is completed, there is still room for improvements and/or alternative solutions when it comes to handling of a vehicle power door. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of embodiments herein to provide an approach for handling remotely triggered operation of a vehicle power door in an improved and/or alternative manner. 
     According to a first aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a method performed by a door assist system of a vehicle for handling of remotely triggered operation of a power door of the vehicle. The door assist system receives from an off-board system a door closure signal requesting the door assist system to activate closing of a power door of the vehicle. The door assist system further determines with input from one or more surroundings detecting sensors adapted to capture a surrounding proximate the vehicle, that an obstacle is in vicinity of the vehicle. Moreover, the door assist system refrains from activating closing of the power door when the obstacle is determined to interfere and/or potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door. 
     According to a second aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a door assist system of a vehicle for—and/or adapted for—handling of remotely triggered operation of a power door of the vehicle. The door assist system comprises a closing request receiving unit for—and/or adapted for—receiving from an off-board system a door closure signal requesting the door assist system to activate closing of a power door of the vehicle. The door assist system further comprises an obstacle determining unit for—and/or adapted for—determining with input from one or more surroundings detecting sensors adapted to capture a surrounding proximate the vehicle, that an obstacle is in vicinity of the vehicle. Moreover, the door assist system comprises a closing refraining unit for—and/or adapted for—refraining from activating closing of the power door when the obstacle is determined to interfere and/or potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door. 
     According to a third aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a vehicle comprising the discussed door assist system. 
     According to a fourth aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a computer program product comprising a computer program containing computer program code means arranged to cause a computer or a processor to execute the steps of the discussed door assist system, stored on a computer-readable medium or a carrier wave. 
     Thereby, there is introduced an approach according to which measures are provided to meet off-board triggered operation of a vehicle power door, for instance of a passenger door of a driverless taxi. That is, since there may be received from an off-board system a door closure signal requesting the door assist system to activate closing of a power door of the vehicle, the door assist system may be instructed by a source located remotely from the vehicle, to actuate closing of a power door of said vehicle. Accordingly, closing of a vehicle power door may be initiated from a system not comprised in the vehicle, such as for instance from a service centre for managing driverless taxis. Moreover, that is, since it may be determined with input from one or more surroundings detecting sensors adapted to capture a surrounding proximate the vehicle that an obstacle is in vicinity of the vehicle, it may be established with support from at least a first sensor capturing a surrounding outside the vehicle that an obstacle is proximate the vehicle. Accordingly, a check may be carried out of whether there is an obstacle nearby the vehicle. Furthermore, since the door assist system may refrain from activating closing of the power door when the obstacle is determined to interfere and/or potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door, upon determining that an obstacle is or is about to become in the way for the intended closing of the power door, the door assist system may refrain from actuating the requested closing of said power door. Accordingly, a check may be carried out of whether a detected obstacle is deemed to interfere and/or potentially interfere with a projected closing path, and when that is the case, the—by the off-board system requested—closing of the power door is not actuated and/or alternatively held e.g. until it is determined that the obstacle no longer interferes and/or potentially interferes with the projected closing path of the power door. Thus, the risk of the power door upon the requested closing colliding with and/or hitting an obstacle, and/or the risk of pinching said obstacle between the power door and the vehicle, is thereby eliminated and/or at least reduced. 
     For that reason, an approach is provided for in an improved and/or alternative manner handle remotely triggered operation of a vehicle power door. 
     The technical features and corresponding advantages of the above mentioned method will be discussed in further detail in the following. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The various aspects of the non-limiting embodiments, including particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a schematic view of an exemplifying door assist system of a vehicle according to embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplifying door assist system according to embodiments of the disclosure; and 
         FIG.  3    is a flowchart depicting an exemplifying method performed by a door assist system according to embodiments of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the disclosure are shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout. Dashed lines of some boxes in the figures indicate that these units or actions are optional and not mandatory. 
     In the following, according to embodiments herein which relate to handling of remotely triggered operation of a power door of a vehicle, there will be disclosed an approach according to which measures are provided to meet off-board triggered operation of a vehicle power door. 
     Referring now to the figures and  FIG.  1    in particular, there is depicted a schematic view of an exemplifying door assist system  1  of a vehicle  2  according to embodiments of the disclosure. The door assist system  1  is adapted for handling of remotely triggered operation of a power door  21  of the vehicle  2 . The exemplifying vehicle  2  may for instance be represented by a driverless taxi. The exemplifying power door  21 , on the other hand, may refer to any one power door of said vehicle  2 , such as a passenger door. 
     The expression “door assist system” may refer to “vehicle power door assist system” and/or “door closing refraining system”, whereas “of” a vehicle may refer to “comprised” in a vehicle. The referred to “vehicle” may be represented by any arbitrary vehicle, for instance an engine-propelled vehicle, such as e.g. a car, truck, lorry, van, tractor and/or bus. “Vehicle” may further refer to “autonomous and/or at least partly autonomous vehicle”, “driverless and/or at least partly driverless vehicle”, “self-driving and/or at least partly self-driving vehicle”, and according to an example further to “taxi” and/or “robo(t)-taxi”. “For” handling of remotely triggered operation may refer to “adapted for” handling of remotely triggered operation, whereas “for handling of” remotely triggered operation may refer to “for managing of” and/or “to take measure to meet a” remotely triggered operation. “Remotely” triggered operation, on the other hand, may refer to “off-board”, “wirelessly” and/or “a reservation centre and/or service centre” triggered operation, and according to an example further to “a handheld electronic device, user electronic device, smart watch, smartphone and/or key fob” triggered operation. “‘Triggered” may refer to “initiated”. The expression “operation” of a power door may refer to “closing” of a power door, whereas “power door” may refer to “power operated door”, “motorized door” and/or merely “door”. The referred to “power door” may refer to any arbitrary power door commonly known in the art, which may be opened and/or closed in a known manner by means of e.g. one or more actuators and/or one or more motors. The referred to “power door” may according to an example further refer to “passenger power door”, “outwardly swinging power door” and/or “side power door”. According to an example, the expression “for handling of remotely triggered operation of a power door of the vehicle” may refer to “for handling of remotely triggered operation of a power door of the vehicle, the door assist system being adapted for activating closing of the power door”. 
     The door assist system  1  is—by means of a closing request receiving unit  105  (shown in  FIG.  2   )—adapted for receiving from an off-board system  3  a door closure signal  4  requesting the door assist system  1  to activate closing of a power door  21  of the vehicle  2 . Thereby, the door assist system  1  may be instructed by a source  3  located remotely from the vehicle  2 , to actuate closing of a power door  21  of said vehicle  2 . Accordingly, closing of a vehicle power door  21  may be initiated from a system  3  not comprised in the vehicle  2  itself. 
     The exemplifying off-board system  3  may for instance be part of a service centre for managing self-driving taxis, for instance distributed among one or more servers. Communication between the door assist system  1  and the off-board system  3  may be accomplished as commonly known in the art, for instance by communicating wirelessly in a known manner. Potential closing of the power door  21 , on the other hand, may for instance be accomplished with support from an exemplifying power door subsystem  211 , for instance comprising one or more e.g. commonly known actuators  2111  (shown in  FIG.  2   ) and/or one or more e.g. commonly known motors  2112  (shown in  FIG.  2   ) enabling closing of the power door  21  in a known manner. 
     The expression “off-board system” may refer to “remote system”, “system not comprised in the vehicle” and/or “wirelessly connected system”. According to an example, “off-board system” may refer to “off-board system supporting communication with one or more vehicles”, and according to another example, to “handheld electronic device, user electronic device, smart watch and/or key fob adapted to communicate with the vehicle”. Moreover, “system” may refer to “vehicles management system”, “control system”, “back-end system”, “one or more automotive clouds and/or cloud networks adapted for cloud-based storage” and/or “at least a first server”. The referred to “off-board system” may be adapted to wirelessly communicate with, and/or adapted to be wirelessly in connection with, the door assist system. The expression door closure “signal” may refer to door closure “message”, “request” and/or “instruction”, whereas “requesting” the door assist system may refer to “prompting” and/or “instructing” the door assist system. “Activate” closing, on the other hand, may refer to “actuate”, “initiate” and/or “enable” closing, whereas “closing” may refer to “bringing the power door to a pre-latched, semi-latched, secondary latched, fully latched and/or fully closed state and/or position”. According to an example, the expression “to activate closing of a power door of the vehicle” may refer to “to activate closing of a power door of the vehicle with support from a power door subsystem comprising one or more actuators and/or one or more motors enabling closing of the power door”. 
     The door assist system  1  is—by means of an obstacle determining unit  106  (shown in  FIG.  2   ) —adapted for determining with input from one or more surroundings detecting sensors  22  adapted to capture a surrounding proximate the vehicle  2 , that an obstacle  5  is in vicinity of the vehicle  2 . Thereby, it may be established with support from at least a first sensor  22  sensing a surrounding outside the vehicle  2  that an obstacle  5  is proximate the vehicle  2 . In other words, a check may be carried out of whether there is an obstacle near the vehicle  2 . 
     Determining that an obstacle  5  is in vicinity of the vehicle  2  may be accomplished as commonly known in the art, and accordingly, the one or more surroundings detecting sensors  22  may refer to commonly known sensors adapted to capture a surrounding proximate the vehicle  2 , such as e.g. one or more cameras, radars, LIDARs etc. The one or more surrounding detecting sensors  22  may be positioned in any arbitrary manner considered relevant to capture a surrounding—and/or at least a portion of a surrounding—proximate the vehicle  2 , and for instance be comprised in and/or be attached to the vehicle  2 . The exemplifying obstacle  5  may for instance be represented by a road user, pedestrian and/or passenger, e.g. standing next to, moving towards and/or moving around the vehicle  2 . 
     The expression “with input” from one or more surrounding detecting sensors may refer to “with support” from one or more surrounding detecting sensors, whereas “surroundings” detecting sensors may refer to “environment” detecting sensors. Adapted to “capture” a surrounding may refer to adapted to “sense” a surrounding. The expression “surrounding” proximate the vehicle, on the other hand, may refer to “at least a portion of a surrounding” and/or “external environment” proximate the vehicle, whereas “proximate” the vehicle may refer to “proximate one or more power doors of” the vehicle. Moreover, “proximate” the vehicle may refer to “proximate and external” the vehicle, and according to an example further to “in vicinity of”, “nearby” and/or “at least within a predetermined and/or predeterminable distance from” the vehicle, such as for instance “at least within 1 metre, more preferred at least within 5 metres, and most preferred at least within 10 metres from” the vehicle. “Obstacle”, on the other hand, may refer to “object” and/or “human being”, and may for instance refer to a passenger, pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist, road user, etc. The expression “in vicinity of” the vehicle may refer to “near”, “proximate” and/or “within a predetermined and/or predeterminable distance from” the vehicle, such as for instance “within 1, 5 and/or 10 metres from” the vehicle. According to an example, the expression “that an obstacle is in vicinity of the vehicle” may refer to “whether an obstacle is in vicinity of the vehicle”. 
     The door assist system  1  is—by means of a closing refraining unit  109  (shown in  FIG.  2   )—adapted for refraining from activating closing of the power door  21  when the obstacle  5  is determined to interfere and/or potentially interfere with a projected closing path  6  of the power door  21 . Thereby, upon determining that an obstacle  5  is or is about to become in the way for the intended closing of the power door  21 , the door assist system  1  may refrain from actuating the requested closing of said power door  21 . In other words, a check may be carried out of whether a detected obstacle  5  is deemed to interfere and/or potentially interfere with a projected closing path  6 , and when that is the case, the—by the off-board system  3  requested—closing of the power door  21  is not actuated or alternatively held e.g. until it is determined that the obstacle  5  no longer interferes and/or potentially interferes with the projected closing path  6  of the power door  21 . Thus, the risk of the power door  21  upon the requested closing colliding with and/or hitting an obstacle  5 , and/or the risk of pinching said obstacle  5  between the power door  21  and the vehicle  2 , may thereby be eliminated and/or at least reduced. 
     Determining that the obstacle  5  interferes and/or potentially may interfere with the projected closing path  6  may be accomplished e.g. by analysing a position and/or an expected position of the obstacle, and comparing with the projected closing path  6 . 
     The expression “refraining from” activating closing may refer to “holding” activating closing, whereas “activating” closing may refer to “actuating” and/or “enabling” closing. “Activating closing of the power door”, on the other hand, may refer to “activating closing of the power door by sending a closing signal and/or message to the power door and/or a control unit associated therewith”. “When” may refer to “if”, whereas “determined” to interfere may refer to “predicted”, “analysed” and/or “calculated” to interfere. The expression “interfere and/or potentially interfere with” a projected closing path may refer to “be in the way of or potentially be in the way of” a projected closing path and/or “have a position and/or a predicted position within” a projected closing path, whereas “potentially” interfere may refer to “is predicted to” interfere. “Projected” closing path, on the other hand, may refer to “expected”, “determined” and/or “calculated” closing path, whereas “closing path” may refer to “inner swing path” and/or “closing path area and/or space between an open position of the power door and a closed positon of the power door”. According to an example, the expression “refraining from activating closing of the power door when the obstacle is determined to interfere and/or potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door” may refer to “refraining from activating closing of the power door when the obstacle is determined to interfere and/or potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door as the power door moves from an open position to a closed position”. According to another example, the expression “refraining from activating closing of the power door when the obstacle is determined to interfere and/or potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door” may refer to “refraining from activating closing of the power door when the obstacle is determined to interfere and/or potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door, and otherwise activating closing of the power door”. According to yet another example, the expression “refraining from activating closing of the power door when the obstacle is determined to interfere and/or potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door” may refer to “refraining from activating closing of the power door when the obstacle is determined to interfere and/or potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door, until it is determined that the obstacle no longer interferes and/or potentially interferes with the projected closing path of the power door”. 
     Optionally, the door assist system  1  may—by means of an optional open position determining unit  101  (shown in  FIG.  2   —be adapted for determining with input from one or more door position sensors  23  that a power door  21  of the vehicle  2  is in an open position  7 . Thereby, it may be established with support from at least a first sensor  23  adapted for sensing and/or determining a door position status, that the power door  21  is deemed to be in an unclosed position  7 . In other words, it may be determined whether the power door  21  is in an open position  7 , rather than in a closed and/or semi-closed position. Subsequently, as a consequence of the unclosed  7  vehicle door  21 , it may be derived that the vehicle  2 , e.g. the driverless taxi, for instance may be unable to take off and/or a taxi service for a potential previous customer may be prevented from being deemed completed. 
     The open position  7  may be associated with and/or refer to an opening angle  70 , for instance represented by an angle from a few degrees up to maximum angle at which the power door has reached its opening limit. Determining that the power door  21  is in an open position  7  may be accomplished as commonly known in the art, and accordingly, the one or more door position sensors  23  may refer to commonly known sensors adapted to determine and/or sense door position status and/or open door angle status. The one or more door status sensors  23  may be positioned in any arbitrary manner considered relevant to determine a door position status and/or open door angle status, and for instance be comprised in and/or be attached to the vehicle  2  and/or power door  21 . 
     The expression “with input” from one or more door position sensors may refer to “with support” from one or more door position sensors, whereas “open” position may refer to “open angular” position, “unclosed” position and/or “unlatched” position. According to an example, “open position” may further refer to “open position with an opening angle exceeding a predetermined and/or predeterminable angle threshold e.g. represented by 5, 15 or 25 degrees”. According to another example, the expression “that a power door of the vehicle is in an open position” may refer to “whether a power door of the vehicle is in an open position”. 
     Optionally, the door assist system  1  may—by means of an optional open position transmitting unit  102  (shown in  FIG.  2   )—be adapted for transmitting to the off-board system  3  a door status signal  8  indicative of the open position  7  of the power door  21 . Thereby, the door assist system  1  may inform the off-board system  3 , which for instance may be part of a service centre for managing self-driving taxis, of that a power door  21  of the vehicle  2  is in an open state  7 . Subsequently, the service centre may directly and/or indirectly be informed of that the vehicle  2 , e.g. the driverless taxi, for instance may be unable to take off and/or a taxi service for a potential previous customer may be prevented from being deemed completed. 
     Communication between the door assist system  1  and the off-board system  3  may as previously indicated be accomplished as commonly known in the art, for instance by communicating wirelessly in a known manner. 
     The expression “transmitting” may refer to “transmitting wirelessly”, “sending” and/or “pushing”, and according to an example further to “subsequent a request from the off-board system transmitting”. The expression door status “signal”, on the other hand, may refer to door status “message”, “information” and/or “warning”, whereas “indicative of” the open position may refer to “comprising information of” the open position. According to an example, the expression “transmitting to the off-board system a door status signal indicative of the open position of the power door” may refer to “transmitting to the off-board system a door status signal indicative of the open position of the power door, when it is determined that the power door is in an open position”. 
     Optionally, the door assist system  1  may—by means of an optional no occupants determining unit  103  (shown in  FIG.  2   )—be adapted for determining with input from one or more occupant presence sensors  24  that no occupants are on-board the vehicle  2 . Thereby, it may be established with support from at least a first sensor  24  adapted for determining and/or sensing vehicle occupants presence within the vehicle  2 , that it is deemed that the vehicle  2  is empty of occupants. In other words, it may be determined whether no passengers are on-board the vehicle  2 . Subsequently, it may be derived that no one remains in the vehicle  2 , e.g. the driverless taxi, to potentially manually close the open vehicle door  21 . 
     Determining that there are no occupants on-board the vehicle  2  may be accomplished as commonly known in the art, and accordingly, the one or more occupant presence sensors  24  may refer to commonly known sensors adapted to determine and/or sense occupant presence, such as e.g. commonly known cameras and/or weight sensors. The one or more occupant presence sensors  24  may be positioned in any arbitrary manner considered relevant to determine and/or sense occupant presence within the vehicle  2 , and for instance be comprised in and/or be attached to the vehicle  2  and/or e.g. vehicle seat(s). 
     The expression “with input” from one or more occupant presence sensors may refer to “with support” from one or more occupant presence sensors, whereas “no” occupants may refer to “zero” occupants. “Occupants”, on the other hand, may refer to “passengers” and/or “humans”, whereas “on-board” the vehicle may refer to “within” the vehicle. According to an example, the expression “that no occupants are on-board the vehicle” may refer to “whether no occupants are on-board the vehicle”. 
     Optionally, the door assist system  1  may—by means of an optional no occupants transmitting unit  104  (shown in  FIG.  2   )—be adapted for transmitting to the off-board system  3  an occupant status signal  9  indicative of that no occupants are on-board the vehicle  2 . Thereby, the door assist system  1  may inform the off-board system  3 , which for instance may be part of a service centre for managing self-driving taxis, of that no passengers are on-board the vehicle  2 . Subsequently, the service centre may directly and/or indirectly be informed of that no one remains in the vehicle  2 , e.g. the driverless taxi, to potentially manually close the open vehicle door  21 . 
     Communication between the door assist system  1  and the off-board system  3  may as previously indicated be accomplished as commonly known in the art, for instance by communicating wirelessly in a known manner. 
     The expression “transmitting” may as previously indicated refer to “transmitting wirelessly”, “sending” and/or “pushing”, and according to an example further to “subsequent a request from the off-board system transmitting”. The expression occupant status “signal”, on the other hand, may refer to occupant status “message”, “information” and/or “warning”, whereas “indicative of” that no occupants are on-board may refer to “comprising information of” that no occupants are on-board. According to an example, the expression “transmitting to the off-board system an occupant status signal indicative of that no occupants are on-board the vehicle” may refer to “transmitting to the off-board system an occupant status signal indicative of that no occupants are on-board the vehicle, when it is determined that no occupants are on-board the vehicle”. 
     Optionally, the door assist system  1  may—by means of an optional moving obstacle determining unit  107  (shown in  FIG.  2   )—be adapted for determining that the obstacle  5  is moving, and further—by means of an optional movement determining unit  108  (shown in  FIG.  2   )—be adapted for determining a predicted movement  50  of the obstacle  5 . The closing refraining unit  109  of the door assist system  1  may then be adapted for refraining from activating closing of the power door  21  when the predicted movement  50  of the obstacle  5  is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path  6  of the power door  21 . Thereby, upon determining that a predicted movement  50  of moving obstacle  5  is expected to come in the way for the intended closing of the power door  21 , the door assist system  1  may refrain from actuating the requested closing of said power door  21 . In other words, a check may be carried out of whether a movement  50  of a detected moving obstacle  5  is predicted to potentially interfere with a projected closing path  6 , and when that is the case, the—by the off-board system  3  requested—closing of the power door  21  is not actuated or alternatively held e.g. until it is determined that the predicted movement  50  of the moving obstacle  5  no longer is deemed to interfere with the projected closing path  6  of the power door  21 . Thus, the risk of the power door  21  upon the requested closing potentially colliding with and/or hitting an obstacle  5  e.g. moving towards, near and/or around the vehicle  2 , and/or the risk of pinching said moving obstacle  5  between the power door  21  and the vehicle  2 , is thereby eliminated and/or at least reduced. 
     Determining that the obstacle  5  is moving may be accomplished as commonly known in the art, e.g. with support from the one or more surroundings detecting sensors  22 . Determining a predicted movement  50  of the obstacle  5  may in a similar manner be accomplished as known in the art, e.g. by analysing how the obstacle  5  moves with input from the one or more surrounding detecting sensors  22  and therefrom derive a predicted movement  50 . Determining that the predicted movement  50  of the obstacle  5  is deemed to interfere with the projected closing path  6 , on the other hand, may be accomplished e.g. by comparing the predicted movement  50  with the projected closing path  6 . 
     The expression that the obstacle is “moving” may refer to that the obstacle is “moving in a horizontal plane and/or in a plane parallel to the ground” and/or to that the obstacle is “moving at least partly towards, near and/or around the vehicle”. “Determining a predicted” movement of the obstacle, on the other hand, may refer to “predicting an expected” movement of the obstacle, whereas “a predicted movement” may refer to “an expected movement”. “A predicted movement” of the obstacle may further refer to “at least a first predicted upcoming position” of the obstacle, whereas the expression “determined to potentially interfere” with a projected closing path of the power door may refer to “predicted to interfere” with a projected closing path of the power door. According to an example, the expression “determining that the obstacle is moving” may refer to “determining whether the obstacle is moving”. In a similar manner, according to another example, the expression “when the predicted movement of the obstacle is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door” may refer to “when it is determined that the object is moving and the predicted movement of the obstacle is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door”. 
     According to one example, the expression “refraining from activating closing of the power door when predicted movement of the obstacle is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door” may refer to “refraining from activating closing of the power door when predicted movement of the obstacle is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door as the power door moves from an open position to a closed position”. According to another example, the expression “refraining from activating closing of the power door when predicted movement of the obstacle is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door” may refer to “refraining from activating closing of the power door when predicted movement of the obstacle is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door, and otherwise activating closing of the power door”. According to yet another example, the expression “refraining from activating closing of the power door when predicted movement of the obstacle is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door” may refer to “refraining from activating closing of the power door when predicted movement of the obstacle is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door, until it is determined that the predicted movement of the obstacle no longer potentially interferes with the projected closing path of the power door”. 
     Optionally, the closing refraining unit  109  may further be adapted for refraining from activating closing of the power door  21  when the predicted movement  50  of the obstacle  5  is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path  6  of the power door  21  during a predeterminable time interval. Thereby, the door assist system  1  may refrain from actuating the requested closing of said power door  21  upon determining that a predicted movement  50  of moving obstacle  5  is expected to come in the way for the intended closing of the power door  21  during a specific period of time, e.g. during the actual closing of the door  21 . In other words, a check may be carried out of whether a movement  50  of a detected moving obstacle  5  is predicted to potentially interfere with a projected closing path  6  during the specific time interval, and only when the potential interference occurs within said time interval is the—by the off-board system  3  requested—closing of the power door  21  not actuated, and/or alternatively held e.g. until it is determined that the moving obstacle&#39;s  5  predicted movement  50  no longer is deemed to interfere with the power door&#39;s  21  projected closing path  6  during said time interval. Thus, the conditions under which the activation of closing the power door  21  is refrained may be less strict, and not apply when potential interference of the obstacle&#39;s  5  predicted movement  50  with the power door&#39;s  21  projected closing path  6  is determined and/or predicted to occur outside of the predetermined time interval, such as for instance outside the actual closing of the power door  21 . According to an example, the conditions under which the activation of closing the power door  21  is refrained would then not apply for instance when the moving object  5  is predicted to not have yet reached the predicted closing path  6  before closing of the power door  21  is estimated to be finalized. 
     The predeterminable time interval may be arbitrarily selected, and may for instance represent the expected time interval for closing the power door  21  and/or until said closing is finalized, further for instance with arbitrarily selected extra time added e.g. to provide safety margins. The duration of, the start of and/or the end of the time interval may accordingly be arbitrarily selected, e.g. in consideration of when closing of the power door  21  is determined and/or expected to be actuated and/or finalized. The time interval may further vary with how widely open the power door  21  is determined to be, thus for instance vary with the opening angle  70  thereof  21 . Moreover, the time interval may for instance range from less than a second up to several seconds or even tens of seconds. 
     The expression “during” a predeterminable time interval may refer to “at least partly coinciding” with a predeterminable time interval, whereas “predeterminable” may refer to “predetermined”, “selectable” and/or “specific” time interval. “A predeterminable time interval”, on the other hand, may according to an example refer to “the expected closing of the vehicle door”. 
     According to an example, the expression “refraining from activating closing of the power door when predicted movement of the obstacle is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door during a predeterminable time interval” may refer to “refraining from activating closing of the power door when predicted movement of the obstacle is determined to during a predeterminable time interval potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door as the power door moves from an open position to a closed position”. According to another example, the expression “refraining from activating closing of the power door when predicted movement of the obstacle is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door during a predeterminable time interval” may refer to “refraining from activating closing of the power door when predicted movement of the obstacle is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door during a predeterminable time interval, and otherwise activating closing of the power door”. According to yet another example, the expression “refraining from activating closing of the power door when predicted movement of the obstacle is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door during a predeterminable time interval” may refer to “refraining from activating closing of the power door when predicted movement of the obstacle is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door during a predeterminable time interval, until it is determined that the predicted movement of the obstacle no longer potentially interferes with the projected closing path of the power door”. 
     As further shown in  FIG.  2   , which is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplifying door assist system  1  according to embodiments of the disclosure, the door assist system  1  comprises as indicating in conjunction with  FIG.  1    an optional open position determining unit  101 , an optional open position transmitting unit  102 , an optional no occupants determining unit  103 , an optional no occupants transmitting unit  104 , a closing request receiving unit  105 , an obstacle determining unit  106 , an optional moving obstacle determining unit  107 , an optional movement determining unit  108 , and a closing refraining unit  109 , all of which were described in greater detail in conjunction with  FIG.  1   . Furthermore, the embodiments herein for handling of remotely triggered operation of a power door  21  of a vehicle  2 , may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processor  110 , here denoted CPU, together with computer program code for performing the functions and actions of the embodiments herein. Said program code may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing the embodiments herein when being loaded into the door assist system  1 . One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc and/or a hard drive. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code may furthermore be provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the door assist system  1 . The door assist system  1  may further comprise a memory  111  comprising one or more memory units. The memory  111  may be arranged to be used to store e.g. information, and further to store data, configurations, schedulings, and applications, to perform the methods herein when being executed in the door assist system  1 . For instance, the computer program code may be implemented in the firmware, stored in FLASH memory  111 , of an embedded processor  110 , and/or downloaded from online. 
     Furthermore, the optional open position determining unit  101 , the optional open position transmitting unit  102 , the optional no occupants determining unit  103 , the optional no occupants transmitting unit  104 , the closing request receiving unit  105 , the obstacle determining unit  106 , the optional moving obstacle determining unit  107 , the optional movement determining unit  108 , the closing refraining unit  109 , the optional processor  110  and/or the optional memory  111 , may at least partly be comprised in one or more nodes  112  e.g. ECUs of the vehicle  2 . Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that said units  101 ,  102 ,  103 ,  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  107 ,  108 ,  109  described above may refer to a combination of analog and digital circuits, and/or one or more processors configured with software and/or firmware, e.g. stored in a memory such as the memory  111 , that when executed by the one or more processors such as the processor  110  perform as was described in conjunction with  FIG.  1    and as will be described in more detail in conjunction with  FIG.  3   . One or more of these processors, as well as the other digital hardware, may be included in a single ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuitry), or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a SoC (System-on-a-Chip). 
     Further shown in  FIG.  2    is optional off-board system  3 , optional one or more surroundings detecting sensors  22 , optional one or more door position sensors  23 , optional one or more occupant presence sensors  24 , optional power door  21 , optional power door subsystem  211  comprising optional one or more actuators  2111  and/or comprising optional one or more motors  2112 , all of which were described in greater detail in conjunction with  FIG.  1   . 
       FIG.  3    is a flowchart depicting an exemplifying method performed by a door assist system  1  according to embodiments of the disclosure. Said method is for handling of remotely triggered operation of a power door  21  of a vehicle  2 . The exemplifying method, which may be continuously repeated, comprises the following actions discussed with support from  FIGS.  1 - 2   . Moreover, the actions may be taken in any suitable order and/or one or more actions may be performed simultaneously and/or in alternate order where applicable; for instance, Action  1003  may be performed simultaneously with and/or prior to Action  1001 , and/or Action  1005  may be performed simultaneously with and/or prior to Action  1001  or Action  1003 . Moreover, according to an example, Actions  1006  and  1009  may be repeatedly iterated. 
     Action  1001   
     In optional Action  1001 , the door assist system  1  may determine with input from one or more door position sensors  23 —e.g. with support from the open position determining unit  101 —that a power door  21  of the vehicle is in an open position  7 . 
     Action  1002   
     In optional Action  1002 , which may follow upon optional Action  1001 , the door assist system  1  may transmit to the off-board system  3 —e.g. with support from the open position transmitting unit  102 —a door status signal  8  indicative of the open position  7  of the power door  21 . 
     Action  1003   
     In optional Action  1003 , the door assist system  1  may determine with input from one or more occupant presence sensors  24 —e.g. with support from the no occupants determining unit  103 —that no occupants are on-board the vehicle  2 . 
     Action  1004   
     In optional Action  1004 , which may follow upon optional Action  1003 , the door assist system  1  may transmit to the off-board system  3 —e.g. with support from the no occupants transmitting unit  104 —an occupant status signal  9  indicative of that no occupants are on-board the vehicle  2 . 
     Action  1005   
     In Action  1005 , the door assist system  1  receives from the off-board system  3 —e.g. with support from the closing request receiving unit  105 —a door closure signal  4  requesting the door assist system  1  to activate closing of a power door  21  of the vehicle  2 . 
     Action  1006   
     In Action  1006 , e.g. with support from the obstacle determining unit  106 , the door assist system  1  determines with input from one or more surroundings detecting sensors  22  adapted to capture a surrounding proximate the vehicle  2 , that an obstacle  5  is in vicinity of the vehicle  2 . 
     Action  1007   
     In optional Action  1007 , the door assist system  1  may determine—e.g. with support from the moving obstacle determining unit  107 —that the obstacle  5  is moving. 
     Action  1008   
     In optional Action  1008 , which may follow upon optional Action  1007 , the door assist system  1  may determine—e.g. with support from the movement determining unit  108 —a predicted movement  50  of the obstacle  5 . 
     Action  1009   
     In Action  1009 , e.g. with support from the closing refraining unit  109 , the door assist system  1  refrains from activating closing of the power door  21  when the obstacle  5  is determined to interfere and/or potentially interfere with a projected closing path  6  of the power door  21 . 
     Optionally, following upon optional Actions  1007  and  1008 , Action  1009  may comprise refraining from activating closing of the power door  21  when the predicted movement  50  of the obstacle  5  is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path  6  of the power door  21 . 
     Furthermore, optionally, following upon optional Actions  1007  and  1008 , Action  1009  may comprise refraining from activating closing of the power door  21  when the predicted movement  50  of the obstacle is determined to potentially interfere with a projected closing path  6  of the power door  21  during a predeterminable time interval. 
     The person skilled in the art realizes that the present disclosure by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. It should furthermore be noted that the drawings not necessarily are to scale and the dimensions of certain features may have been exaggerated for the sake of clarity. Emphasis is instead placed upon illustrating the principle of the embodiments herein. Additionally, in the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.