GB2630648A

GB2630648A - A method for operating a navigation device of a motor vehicle, a computer program product, as well as a navigation device

Info

Publication number: GB2630648A
Application number: GB2308298.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lakhotia Manasvita
Original assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2023-06-02
Filing date: 2023-06-02
Publication date: 2024-12-04
Also published as: GB202308298D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a navigation device (10) of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of receiving an information (26) relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle from a social media platform (16) by an electronic computing device (12) of the navigation system (10); implementing the information (26) relating to the surroundings into a representation (18) of the surroundings of the navigation device (10) by the electronic computing device (12); and presenting the representation (18) of the surroundings with the information (26) about the surroundings on a display device (14) of the navigation device (10). Furthermore, the invention relates to a computer program product, as well as to a navigation device (10).

Description

A METHOD FOR OPERATING A NAVIGATION DEVICE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, A COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, AS WELL AS A NAVIGATION DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for operating a navigation device of a motor vehicle when integrating additional visual data sources within the navigation system.

Furthermore, the present invention relates a corresponding computer program product, as well as to a corresponding navigation device.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] Social media applications are increasingly the predominant mode for search and discovery of locations, for example, travel destinations, restaurants, bars, shops and furthermore, by users. This new behavior is not taken into account in current in-vehicle navigation systems used by users during their journey. These in-vehicle navigation systems are unable to provide functionalities desired by users who therefore during a journey carry such facilities along as an external device, for example mobile phones. Current in-vehicle navigation systems do not use a map layer based on a dataset of locations tagged by users within social media applications. Users are therefore unable to see live images/video relating to a specific location, for example, restaurants posted by users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method, a computer program product, as well as a navigation device, by which a comfort enhancement for a user of the motor vehicle is realized.

[0004] This object is solved by a method, a computer program product, as well as a navigation device according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0005] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a navigation device of a motor vehicle. An information relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle is received from a social media platform by an electronic computing device of the navigation system of the motor vehicle. The information relating to the surroundings is implemented into a representation of the surroundings of the navigation device of the electronic computing device. The representation of the surroundings is presented with the information relating to the surroundings on a display device of the navigation device.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention describes a logic flow that allows the integration/implementation of social media datasets to be visible to, for example, a driver of the motor vehicle and/or other users of the motor vehicle within their in-vehicle navigation device, allowing them to search for destinations based on images and video content posted by their social media network, and their vehicle's current position, for example, a global positioning system (GPS) location. The solution also enables users to start a route guidance to the selected locations based on their vehicle status, for example, a state of charge, and other traffic data.

[0007] Therefore, the ease of use to seamless integration of all functionalities within a single device, in particular the motor vehicle, is provided, and therefore a reduced number of user actions is required. Furthermore, the value for customers is enhanced when using the in-vehicle infotainment and navigation system versus an external device connected to the internal display, for example a mobile phone, which may be connected with the motor vehicle.

[0008] According to an embodiment, the representation of the surroundings is presented on a central display device and/or a head-up display device.

[0009] In another embodiment, depending on a destination of the navigation device, the information relating to the surroundings is provided for the navigation device.

[0010] In another embodiment, a current position of the motor vehicle is transmitted from the navigation device to the social media platform.

[0011] According to another embodiment, credentials for a personal account of a user of a motor vehicle are transmitted from the navigation device to the social media platform.

[0012] In another embodiment, at least one point of interest in the surroundings of the motor vehicle is presented depending on the information relating to the surroundings.

[0013] Furthermore, the point of interest may be selectable for a user of the motor vehicle on the display device.

[0014] In another embodiment a route of the selected point of interest is determined, and the determined route is presented on the display device.

[0015] In particular, the method is a computer-implemented method. Therefore, another aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to the preceding aspect. Furthermore, the invention relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product according to the preceding aspect.

[0016] A still further aspect of the invention relates to a navigation device for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one electronic computing device and one display device, wherein the navigation system is configured for performing a method according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the method is performed by the navigation device.

[0017] The electronic computing device/computing unit therefore may comprise electronic means, for example, processors, circuits, in particular integrated circuits, and further electronic means for performing a method. A computing unit may in particular be understood as a data processing device, which comprises processing circuitry. The computing unit can therefore in particular process data to perform computing operations. This may also include operations to perform indexed accesses to a data structure, for example a look-up table, LUT.

[0018] In particular, the computing unit may include one or more computers, one or more microcontrollers, and/or one or more integrated circuits, for example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits, ASIC, one or more field-programmable gate arrays, FPGA, and/or one or more systems on a chip, SoC. The computing unit may also include one or more processors, for example one or more microprocessors, one or more central processing units, CPU, one or more graphics processing units, GPU, and/or one or more signal processors, in particular one or more digital signal processors, DSP. The computing unit may also include a physical or a virtual cluster of computers or other of said units.

[0019] In various embodiments, the computing unit includes one or more hardware and/or software interfaces and/or one or more memory units.

[0020] A memory unit may be implemented as a volatile data memory, for example a dynamic random access memory, DRAM, or a static random access memory, SRAM, or as a non-volatile data memory, for example a read-only memory, ROM, a programmable read-only memory, PROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory, EPROM, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, EEPROM, a flash memory or flash EEPROM, a ferroelectric random access memory, FRAM, a magnetoresistive random access memory, MRAM, or a phase-change random access memory, PCRAM.

[0021] Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least the navigation device according to the preceding aspect.

[0022] Advantageous forms of configurations of the method are to be regarded as advantageous forms of the computer program product, the navigation device, as well as the motor vehicle. The navigation device as well as the motor vehicle therefore comprises means for performing the method.

[0023] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0025] The drawings show in: [0026] Fig. 1 a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of the invention; [0027] Fig. 2 a schematic view on a display device of an embodiment of a navigation device according to the invention; and [0028] Fig. 3 another schematic view of a display device of an embodiment of the navigation device.

[0029] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0031] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0032] The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by "comprises" or "comprise" does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0033] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0034] Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram according to an embodiment of the method, in particular performed by a navigation device 10 of a motor vehicle (not shown). The motor vehicle may be configured as an at least in part electrically operated motor vehicle, a fully electrically operated motor vehicle or a motor vehicle with a combustion engine. The navigation system 10 comprises at least one electronic computing device 12 as well as one display device 14.

[0035] In particular, Fig. 1 shows a method for operating the navigation device 10. An information relating to the surroundings of a motor vehicle from a social media platform 16 is received by the electronic computing device 12. The information relating to the surroundings is implemented into a representation 18 of the surroundings (Fig. 2) of the navigation device 10, and the representation 18 of the surroundings is presented with the information relating to the surroundings on the display device 14.

[0036] In particular, Fig. 1 shows that, for example, in a first step S1 the navigation device 10 is started. In a second step S2, points of interest 20 (Fig. 2) are enabled on the social media platform 16. In a third step S3, a content search is performed, wherein, for example, a user may click on a point of interest 20 to view a content 22. In a fourth step S4, a route 24 (Fig. 2) to the selected point of interest 20 may be provided.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows a schematic view according to an embodiment of a display device 14. In particular, a map on the display device 14 is shown. In particular, the embodiment according to Fig. 2 may be displayed on a central display device as the display device 14.

[0038] In particular, Fig. 2 shows that depending on a destination 28 of the navigation device 10 and/or a current position 30 the information 26 relating to the surroundings is provided for the navigation device 10.

[0039] In particular, Fig. 2 shows the integration of the navigation device 10 and the point of interest data structure with, in particular, geo-tagged social media content 22 to enable users to search, view, and start automatic route guidance to geo-tagged social media content 22. The vehicle system application needs to be registered as the social media's developer account, and have access to the social media's API via an access token to an authentic request.

[0040] The solution uses an API for the particular social media to provide a searchable data base of locations with associated video/image content 22 posted by social media network of the individual user, within the navigation device 10 of the motor vehicle. To access the social media application's data and functionality, the navigation device 10 needs to use the social media's API (application processing interface). This allows the navigation device 10 to access features such as user profile, media, for example, photos and videos, and content tags, for example location, which can be displayed on the display device 14 allowing users to interact with a social media functionality via the navigation device 10.

[0041] In particular, the navigation device 10 may authenticate itself with the social media API using the provided access token. Once authenticated, the navigation device 10 retrieves the user's profile data and recent media, along with the location tag associated with the media. The navigation device 10 then filters the user's profile data and recent media, based on the current GPS location and specified search radius, and displays it in an appropriate format on the display device 14. The navigation device 10 may also allow users to interact with the social media's features, such as liking a photo or leaving a comment. The navigation device 10 may also be able to search for the social media's pages, posts and tags based on the user's input. The navigation device 10 may also have the functionality to show social media posts saved in the linked user profile, of nearby locations based on the vehicle's GPS location data. Once, a location has been selected, the navigation device 10 may also have the functionality to suggest routing based on the charge status, for example by electric vehicles, or fuel range, for an internal combustion engine vehicle, to the selected social media location and include charging/fuel stops as required to search destination. The estimated time of arrival at the selected social media location may also be displayed in the navigation device 10, along with the route 24.

[0042] Fig. 3 shows another schematic view of a display device 14, wherein the display device 14 is configured as a head-up display. In particular, the user may select the point of interest 20, and the information 26 about the surroundings may be displayed. Furthermore, the user may select the point of interest 20 and provide a navigation 30 to the point of interest 20, wherein in particular the route 24 is displayed on the display device 14.

Reference Signs navigation device 12 electronic computing device 14 display device 16 social media platform 18 map point of interest 22 content 24 route 26 surroundings information 28 destination current position 32 navigation S1 to S4 steps of the method

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for operating a navigation device (10) of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: - receiving an information (26) relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle from a social media platform (16) by an electronic computing device (12) of the navigation system (10); - implementing the information (26) relating to the surroundings into a representation (18) of the surroundings of the navigation device (10) by the electronic computing device (12); and - presenting the representation (18) of the surroundings with the information (26) relating to the surroundings on a display device (14) of the navigation device (10).
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the representation (18) of the surroundings is presented on a central display device and/or a head-up display device.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that depending on a destination (28) of the navigation device (10) the information (26) relating to the surroundings is provided for the navigation device (10).
4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a current position (30) of the motor vehicle is transmitted from the navigation device (10) to the social media platform (16).
5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that credentials for a personal account of a user of the motor vehicle are transmitted from the navigation device (10) to the social media platform (16).
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one point of interest (20) in the surroundings is presented depending on the information (26) relating to the surroundings.
7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the point of interest (20) is selectable for a user of the motor vehicle on the display device (14).
8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that a route (24) to the selected point of interest (20) is determined and the determined route (24) is presented on the display device (14).
9. A computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
10. A navigation device (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one electronic computing device (12) and one display device (14), wherein the navigation device (10) is configured for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.