Patent ID: 12230077

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The sole FIGURE shows an embodiment of a management system10in a schematic side view. The management system10is designed for generating an operating time key performance indicator KPI for displaying an operating time of a motor vehicle12for a user14of the management system10with at least one electronic computing device16. Furthermore, the management system10herein has, in particular, a display18, on which the operating time key performance indicator KPI can be displayed for the user14. The user14can also be referred to as the fleet manager.

In a method for generating the operating time key performance indicator KPI, at least one operating parameter20of the motor vehicle12is transmitted to the electronic computing device16of the management system10, the electronic computing device being remote from the motor vehicle, to display an operating time of the motor vehicle12for the user14by means of the management system10, and the operating time key performance indicator KPI is determined depending on the at least one transmitted operating parameter20by means of the electronic computing device16.

It is provided that, additionally, at least one load parameter22of the motor vehicle12is recorded and transmitted to the electronic computing device16and that the operating time key performance indicator KPI is additionally generated in accordance with the at least one load parameter22by means of the electronic computing device16.

It can, in particular, be provided that a current location of the motor vehicle12and/or a current speed of the motor vehicle12are transmitted to the electronic computing device16as operating parameters20. For example, the operating parameters20and/or the load parameter22can be transmitted by means of a mobile network24to the electronic computing device16that is remote from the vehicle.

It can furthermore be provided that a presence of at least one occupant26of the motor vehicle12is specified as a load parameter22. To this end it can, for example, be provided that the presence of the at least one occupant26is determined by means of a pressure sensor28and/or by means of a seatbelt sensor30of the motor vehicle12. It can be further provided that a load32of a loading space of the motor vehicle12, for example a luggage space of the motor vehicle12, is specified as a load parameter22. To this end it can, for example, be provided that the load32in the loading space is determined by means of an optical detecting device34of the motor vehicle12and/or by means of an electromagnetic chip system, for example an NFC system.

It can furthermore, for example, be provided that a fuel level of a fuel tank36of the motor vehicle12and/or a charge level of an electrical energy store38of the motor vehicle12are additionally transmitted to the electronic computing device16and the operating time key performance indicator KPI is determined in accordance with this. It can furthermore be provided that a current location of the motor vehicle12is compared with an area map having places of interest POI by means of the electronic computing device16and the operating time key performance indicator KPI is determined in accordance with the comparison.

Furthermore, the FIGURE shows a further motor vehicle40, wherein it is shown that a plurality of operating time key performance indicators KPI for a plurality of motor vehicles12,40can be determined by means of the management system10, and a fleet key performance indicator is generated in accordance with the plurality of operating time key performance indicators KPI by means of the electronic computing device16.

The FIGURE therefore shows that a so-called key performance indicator (KPI) and thus the operating time key performance indicator KPI is displayed for the management system10, for example of a fleet of vehicles, which herein then corresponds to a plurality of motor vehicles12,40, the operating time key performance indicator identifying the productive operating time and distinguishing it from non-productive operating time. Simple key performance indicators are, in particular, indispensable for efficient operational management of a fleet of vehicles. Instead of individually examining complicated scenarios, it is mostly more important to a fleet manager, which here corresponds to the user14, whether defined key figures lie in a defined range or are developing in the right direction. To this end the FIGURE shows that a simple operating time key performance indicator KPI is determined for the fleet and identifies productive operating time periods. A productive operating time can be, for example, transporting a product, for example the load32, or transporting an occupant26. In contrast, non-productive operating times can be, for example, empty journeys, fuel trips, cleaning trips, or workshop visits. It is of course possible that the user14determines themselves whether a productive or non-productive operating time is occurring.

If, for example, the outward journey can be billed to the customer in the case of a customer service vehicle, then this is productive operating time. If this cannot be done, for example in the case of a taxi, then there is the scenario of an “empty outward journey,” a non-productive operating time, for this sector or these customers. It can also be left to the user14whether a classification for non-productive operating time or productive operating time is carried out, for example loading times of motor vehicles12,40, unloading times for motor vehicles12,40, stopovers for loading or unloading goods or people.

Furthermore, the FIGURE shows that these operating times can be determined and can be shown to the user14, in particular on the display18. This can be done for the motor vehicle12, but also for a plurality, wherein plurality currently in particular means more than one of motor vehicles12,40, and thereby a whole fleet of motor vehicles40. This can also be formulated as an absolute value, for example “17 hours of productive operating time in this week” or as a relative value, for example “27% productive operating time”.

In particular the operating parameters20, such as location and speed of the motor vehicle12, are to this end, transmitted to the electronic computing device16. From this, scenarios such as “driving,” “at a standstill” or “parked” can, for example, then be deduced. The motor vehicle12determines whether an occupant26is in the motor vehicle12, for example by means of the pressure sensor28, as is also used for the obligation to wear a seatbelt. The motor vehicle12determines the load32via suitable sensors, for example via a scanner or via the NFC technology. In a similar way, refueling operations can also be detected, as the fuel level is monitored. It is also possible that the vehicle location is compared with a database of places of interest POI, wherein these correspond, for example, to a petrol station, a car wash, or a workshop. From this the electronic computing device16can then deduce, in particular by means of an algorithm, whether a productive or non-productive operating time is occurring.

An addition to this can be that geographical areas, so-called geofences, can be defined and classified by the user14. The user14can thus, for example, define a geofence marking a goods depot and allocate a stay of the motor vehicle12as a productive or non-productive operating time.

Ultimately a simple scalar value, the operating time key performance indicator KPI, is determined from this, which identifies the productive operating time or the relationship of the productive operating time to non-productive operating time, and displays this suitably to the user14. It can in particular be advantageous if it takes place over different periods of time, and a comparison is thus enabled. For example, the operating time key performance indicator KPI can specify that operating times for the motor vehicle12or for the further motor vehicle40are to be recorded as 30% this week, 27% the previous week or 30% this week, 27% this month and 25 this year.

In general, the invention shows a method for identifying and displaying productive operating times in fleet management.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived from these by the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that there is a plurality of possible variations. It is also clear that embodiments stated by way of example are only really examples that are not to be seen as limiting the scope, application possibilities or configuration of the invention in any way. In fact, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete manner, wherein, with the knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, the person skilled in the art is able to undertake various changes, for example, with regard to the functioning or arrangement of individual elements stated in an exemplary embodiment without leaving the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.