Method for operating a virtual-reality output device, synchronisation unit motor vehicle

A method for operating a virtual reality output device assigned to a first motor vehicle, the method comprising:

• establishing a planned navigation route of the first motor vehicle as a reference navigation route;
• selecting a second motor vehicle according to a planned navigation route of the second motor vehicle satisfying a prespecified synchronization condition, the prespecified synchronization condition specifying that a duration of travel of the second motor vehicle on a navigation route of the second motor vehicle lies within a prespecified tolerance range around a reference journey duration of travel of the first motor vehicle on the reference navigation route;
• scaling a route length of the navigation route of the second motor vehicle to a route length of the reference navigation route to form a scaled navigation route;
• identifying a route section of the reference navigation route satisfying a prespecified homogeneity criterion, as a synchronizable route section, the prespecified homogeneity criterion specifying a prespecified minimum degree of correspondence of a route profile of the route section of the reference navigation route with a route profile of a route section of the scaled navigation route;
• assigning the route section of the scaled navigation route to the synchronizable route section;
• providing an output content, which describes a virtual journey on a virtual navigation route, the virtual journey representing the reference journey duration and a route profile of the reference navigation route, for output by the virtual reality output device during travel of the first motor vehicle;
• and
• when the first motor vehicle is on the synchronizable route section and the second motor vehicle is on the route section of the scaled navigation route assigned to the synchronizable route section, changing the output content provided for output by the virtual reality output device, the changed output content describing an avatar which represents the second motor vehicle and a recorded motor vehicle movement of the second motor vehicle.

A synchronization device, comprising:

• a memory configured to store instructions;
• and
• a processor configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory to:
• establish a planned navigation route of a first motor vehicle as a reference navigation route,
• select a second motor vehicle according to a planned navigation route of the second motor vehicle satisfying a prespecified synchronization condition, the prespecified synchronization condition specifying that a duration of travel of the second motor vehicle on a navigation route of the second motor vehicle lies within a prespecified tolerance range around a reference journey duration of travel of the first motor vehicle on the reference navigation route,
• scale a route length of the navigation route of the second motor vehicle to a route length of the reference navigation route to form a scaled navigation route,
• identify a route section of the reference navigation route satisfying a prespecified homogeneity criterion, as a synchronizable route section, the prespecified homogeneity criterion specifying a prespecified minimum degree of correspondence of a route profile of the route section of the reference navigation route with a route profile of a route section of the scaled navigation route,
• assign the route section of the scaled navigation route to the synchronizable route section,
• provide an output content, which describes a virtual journey on a virtual navigation route, the virtual journey representing the reference journey duration and a route profile of the reference navigation route, for output by a virtual reality output device during travel of the first motor vehicle, and
• when the first motor vehicle is on the synchronizable route section and the second motor vehicle is on the route section of the scaled navigation route assigned to the synchronizable route section, change the output content provided for output by the virtual reality output device, the changed output content describing an avatar which represents the second motor vehicle and a recorded motor vehicle movement of the second motor vehicle.