DE102009058538A1 - Control device e.g. head unit, for controlling e.g. radio of motor vehicle, has evaluation device that determines control functions favored from control functions of telephone, navigation system, radio and air conditioning system - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a touch screen (6) to which multiple control functions are assigned, where each control function represents release of an action of one of a telephone (2), a navigation system (3), a radio (4) and an air conditioning system (5). Favored control functions of the touch screen are stored in a memory device. An evaluation device automatically determines control functions favored from the control functions of the telephone, the navigation system, the radio and the air conditioning system stored in the memory device. An independent claim is also included for a control method for controlling multiple devices of a motor vehicle.

Description

The present invention relates to an operating device for operating a plurality of applications or devices of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 and an operating method for operating a plurality of applications or devices according to the preamble of claim 6.

Currently, in a main user interface (HU) of a motor vehicle, a favorite selection is offered only within an application. For example, favorites of a browser (URLs) can only be invoked when the browser application is open, but not when the navigation application is open. The same applies to other in-vehicle applications such as controlling an air conditioner, a radio, a telephone and the like. A disadvantage of the current control with favorites is that the favorites selection is bound to an active application, and the favorites are thus not all directly executable or controllable. Rather, to select certain favorites or a specific history usually a change of application for example by direct entry keys to the HU (Head Unit or main unit in the vehicle as a user interface for ancillary units and information systems) is required. As a result, only a low level of operating comfort can be ensured and many operating steps are required.

From the preamble of claims 1 and 6 forming DE 102 15 092 A1 For example, an apparatus and a method for facilitating the control of equipment associated with a vehicle are known. Using a relational database, flexible assignments of actions to devices are allowed. In this way, actions can be defined independently by devices (eg "telephoning", "navigating", etc.) so that the user does not first have to identify the necessary device. To further facilitate operation, a field is provided in the menu structure on the touchscreen that calls up a list of "favorites" (submenu items and / or parameters) that were previously entered by the user himself as the preferred choice or by statistical means the control unit has been designed to determine the sub-menu items or parameters most frequently selected by the user in the past. The preferred submenus or parameters of an action are saved and called if necessary.

The object of the present invention is to make the operation of, for example, a HU of a motor vehicle even more comfortable.

According to the invention this object is achieved by an operating device according to claim 1 or an operating method according to claim 6.

More specifically, an operating device for operating a plurality of applications of a motor vehicle has an input device to which a plurality of operating functions are assignable, each operating function representing the releasability of at least one action of one of the plurality of applications, a memory device with which favored operating functions of the input device can be stored, and an evaluation device on, with the favored from the several operating functions of the multiple applications operating functions can be determined automatically, in the memory device, the favored operating functions of multiple applications can be stored.

Preferably, a display device for displaying the favorite operating functions is provided.

The evaluation device preferably determines the favorite operating functions on the basis of a frequency of use or a history of the use.

The preferred operating functions are preferably determined by the evaluation device as a function of a signal entered externally into the evaluation device.

The preferred operating functions are preferably classified by the evaluation device and displayed by the display device according to the classification.

Furthermore, an operating method for operating a plurality of applications of a motor vehicle comprises assigning the plurality of operating functions to an input device, wherein each operating function represents the triggerability of at least one action of one of the applications, storing the favorite operating functions of the input device, automatically determining favorite operating functions from the several operating functions of the multiple applications, and storing the favorite operating functions of the multiple applications.

The preferred operating functions are preferably displayed.

The preferred operating functions are preferably determined on the basis of a sorting, categorization or frequency of use or a history of the use.

The preferred operating functions are preferably determined as a function of a signal entered externally into the evaluation device.

The preferred operating functions are preferably classified and displayed according to the classification.

The aforementioned operating device is, for example, the operating unit of an HU or head unit of a motor vehicle. This provides the advantage that from the application-specific favorites (local favorites) with the help of an underlying mechanism, application-independent favorites (global favorites) can be defined and displayed on the HU of the motor vehicle. This allows both access to sources within an application or application or a device as well as access to sources other applications, the latter being a direct entry into the application without lengthy application change (that is, without or with little interaction) is connected. This also required controls (for example, hardkeys for applications) can be saved. The same mechanism can also be applied to a history. Preferably, both the global favorites and the global history are automatically categorized.

The present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It shows:

1 a block diagram of an HU or main unit or head unit together with several applications or applications or devices of a motor vehicle and

2 the display of an HU with global favorites.

The embodiments described in more detail below represent preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Generally speaking, depending on locally defined favorites, global favorites are automatically generated that are available across applications. This is done via an automatism with which different contexts are determined.

In 1 an arrangement of applications or applications or devices is shown in a motor vehicle. A main unit 1 (HU) is using different devices, for example, telephone 2 , Navigation system 3 , Radio 4 and air conditioning 5 , connected. The main unit 1 serves to operate or control these ancillary units or information systems. It also provides a user interface to these devices. For this purpose, it has, for example, a display or a touchscreen 6 on which global favorites are displayed. This is the main unit 1 as an operating device having an input device and a display device as a common unit (for example, touch screen). In addition, the main unit has 1 one in 1 not shown memory to save dynamically determined global favorites.

The following scenario should serve as a basis for the description of a concrete example. A user can define the most frequently heard frequencies as Favorites on the keys 1 to 9 for the application "Radio". In addition, the most called telephone numbers can be defined as favorites 1 to 6, and furthermore the most used navigation destinations can be defined as favorites 1 to 4. These so-called local favorites are only available in the respective applications. From this a set of global favorites is determined, which is offered to the user either linear or categorized in any application. The amount of global favorites does not need to be managed by the user as it is automatically created from the managed local favorites. However, it can also be managed manually if the automatism is not sufficient.

• a) die Menge der globalen Favoriten kann aus einer linearen Liste bestehen, wobei aus allen lokalen Favoriten immer die ersten x Einträge einsortiert werden. Eine Liste kann somit folgendes Aussehen aufweisen: {Radio Fav 1, Radio Fav 2, Radio Fav 3, Telefon Fav 1, Telefon Fav 2, Telefon Fav 3, Navi Fav 1, Navi Fav 2, Navi Fav 3}
• b) die Menge der globalen Favoriten kann durch Unterkategorien gebildet werden, die aus den Applikationen bestehen. Es kann somit folgende Liste gebildet werden: {Radio {Radio Fav 1, Radio Fav 2, Radio Fav 3}, Telefon {Telefon Fav 1, Telefon Fav 2, Telefon Fav 3}, Navigation {Navi Fav 1, Navi Fav 2, Navi Fav 3}}
• c) weiterhin sind beliebige andere Sortierungen und Kombinationen möglich. So können verschieden Algorithmen für das Bestimmen der globalen Favoriten aus lokalen Favoriten eingesetzt bzw. gewählt werden. Ferner kann die Auswahl der globalen Favoriten erfolgen c1) nach Beliebtheit, zum Beispiel indem die am Häufigsten gewählten lokalen Favoriten ausgesucht werden, oder c2) nach Verlauf (Historie), zum Beispiel indem die letzten drei gewählten lokalen Favoriten jeder Applikation gewählt werden, oder c3) nach der Reihenfolge, zum Beispiel indem immer die ersten drei lokalen Favoriten gewählt werden, oder c4) nach einer kontextabhängigen dynamischen Selektion, zum Beispiel indem beim Erreichen eines Zielorts mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit eher eine Parkplatzsuche erforderlich sein als z. B. ein Telefonanruf, oder c5) nach Abgleichen einer gewählten Nutzergruppe, zum Beispiel einer Community/eines sozialen Netzwerks, die sich in einer ähnlichen Situation oder einem ähnlichen Kontext befindet oder indem die Algorithmen wie zuvor beschrieben auf die Gruppe ausgedehnt werden, oder c6) nach einem Muster, das eine Kombination der Möglichkeiten ausführt, wie sie zuvor beschrieben worden sind.

This sorting or categorization of the global list can be done as follows:

• a) The set of global favorites can consist of a linear list, whereby the first x entries are always sorted from all local favorites. A list may look like this: {Radio Fav 1, Radio Fav 2, Radio Fav 3, Telephone Fav 1, Telephone Fav 2, Telephone Fav 3, Navi Fav 1, Navi Fav 2, Navi Fav 3}
• b) the set of global favorites can be formed by subcategories consisting of the applications. Thus, the following list can be formed: {Radio {Radio Fav 1, Radio Fav 2, Radio Fav 3}, Telephone {Telephone Fav 1, Telephone Fav 2, Telephone Fav 3}, Navigation {Navi Fav 1, Navi Fav 2, Navi Fav 3}}
• c) furthermore, any other sorting and combinations are possible. Thus, different algorithms can be used or selected for determining the global favorites from local favorites. Furthermore, the global favorites can be selected c1) by popularity, for example by selecting the most frequently selected local favorites, or c2) by history, for example by selecting the last three selected local favorites of each application, or c3 ) in order, for example by always selecting the first three local favorites, or c4) after a context-dependent dynamic selection, for example when a destination is more likely to require a search for a parking space than when reaching a destination. A phone call, or c5) after matching a selected user group, for example a community / social network in a similar situation or context, or extending the algorithms to the group as described above, or c6) for a pattern that performs a combination of the possibilities described above.

Global favorites can be fixed, variable or freely configurable, especially if the automatic selection is not satisfactory.

• (1) Algorithmus zum Ermitteln von globalen Favoriten aus dem Verlauf der letzten 3 verwendeten lokalen Favoriten einer Applikation:
  
• (2) Algorithmus zum Ermitteln von globalen Favoriten nach der Reihenfolge der ersten drei lokalen Favoriten einer Applikation:
  

By way of example, the algorithms for determining according to course (1) and determining according to the sequence (2) in pseudocode can be described as follows:

• (1) algorithm for determining global favorites from the history of the last 3 used local favorites of an application:
  
• (2) algorithm for determining global favorites according to the order of the first three local favorites of an application:
  

Instead of individual local applications, application groups can also serve as selection and as category (for example, radio and MP3 player combined as media).

In 2 For example, there are 3 favorites of the application Radio 7 , the navigation application 8th , the application browser 9 and the application phone 10 as global favorites 11 defined and exemplified as they are presented to the user. The individual global favorites are classified here according to applications. For a better distinction for the user, a different color for the favorites per application or class 11 to get voted.

When selecting a global favorite 11 If a different application or favorite class was previously opened, it can change the application (direct entry). If the selected favorite belongs to the same application, only the source will be changed. The automatic categorization of global favorites 11 can also be applied to the global history of a telematics system.

• – die letzten eingegebene Ziele
• – die letzten gewählten Telefonnummern
• – die letzten gewählten Sender
• – die letzten gewählten Interpreten
• – die letzten gewählten URLs eines Browser
• – usw.

In addition to favorites history lists (histories) can be built. Then not local favorites are the basis, but local actions such as:

• - the last entered goals
• - the last dialed telephone numbers
• - the last selected channels
• - the last selected artists
• - the last selected URLs of a browser
• - etc.

The global history is then a selection of the local (application-specific) history, which is formed according to the same mechanisms as previously described.

Thus, a system is created that automatically selects which local favorites are defined as global favorites. In addition, this system allows the choice to be left to the user as to what assignment of global favorites is offered. In addition, the system allows you to display a specific set of global favorites in a linear list by sorting x favorites into this list for each application.

In addition, it is optionally possible to classify a specific set of global favorites into subcategories, depending on their affiliation with an application or application class or favorite class.

As the examples presented above also show, global favorites are provided which are defined as a selection of all local favorites according to a fixed sequence, with the first x local favorites per application additionally being defined as global favorites. Specifically, the global favorites can be defined, for example, from the history, with the last x selected favorites per application being defined as global favorites. Another general indication may be that the global favorites are defined by frequency of use, with x most frequently selected favorites per application being defined as global favorites. Another common starting point may be that the global favorites are defined by a context-sensitive selection, with the x most likely favorite ones per application defined as global favorites. Finally, global favorites can be defined after matching a behavior in a similar context, with the x most similar favorites defined per application as global favorites. The general aspects of the global favorites can also be transferred to a global history.

In addition to lower costs, the advantages are achieved that a more fluid and intuitive operation, a direct jump into applications, a focus of selected favorites in one place and dynamic customization options to the customer behavior are possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

main unit

2

phone

3

navigation system

4

radio

5

air conditioning

6

Display (touchscreen)

7

Application radio

8th

Application Navigation

9

Application Browser

10

Application phone

11

favorites

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10215092 A1 [0003]

Claims (10)

Operating device ( 1 ) for operating several applications ( 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 ) of a motor vehicle, comprising: an input device ( 6 ), to which a plurality of operating functions are assignable, each operating function being the triggerability of at least one action of one of the multiple applications ( 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 ) and a memory device with the preferred operating functions of the input device ( 6 ) can be stored, characterized by an evaluation device, with which from the several operating functions of the multiple applications ( 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 ) are automatically determinable, wherein in the memory device ( 6 ) the favored operating features of multiple applications ( 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 ) are storable. Operating device according to claim 1, characterized by a display device for displaying the favorite operating functions. Operating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the favored operating functions can be determined by means of a sorting, categorization or frequency of use or a history of use by the evaluation device. Operating device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the preferred operating functions can be determined as a function of a signal entered externally into the evaluation device by the evaluation device. Operating device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the favored operating functions can be classified by the evaluation and displayable by the display device according to the classification. Operating method for operating multiple applications ( 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 ) of a motor vehicle, comprising: assigning the plurality of operating functions to an input device ( 6 ), each operating function being the triggerability of at least one action of one of the applications ( 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 ), storing the favorite operating functions of the input device ( 6 ), characterized by automatically determining favored operating functions from the several operating functions of the multiple applications ( 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 ), and saving the favorite operating features of multiple applications ( 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 ). Operating method according to claim 6, characterized by displaying the favorite operating functions. Operating method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by determining the favored operating functions based on a sorting, categorization or frequency of use or a history of use. Operating method according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized by determining the favored operating functions as a function of a signal entered externally into the evaluation device. Operating method according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized by classifying the favorite operating functions and displays according to the classification.

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