WO2019021070A1

WO2019021070A1 - Infotainment system

Info

Publication number: WO2019021070A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/054198
Authority: WO
Inventors: Igor Spinella; Enrico DENTE; Giovanni MASCIA
Original assignee: Eggtronic Engineering SpA
Current assignee: Eggtronic Engineering SpA
Priority date: 2017-07-25
Filing date: 2018-06-11
Publication date: 2019-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-25
Also published as: IT201700084666A1

Abstract

An automotive infotainment system (100) is described, comprising a local area network (110) installed aboard a vehicle (105) and able to connect at least one server device (115) with a plurality of client devices (120) mounted aboard the vehicle (105) and individually provided with at least one output and/or input apparatus (147).

Description

INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an infotainment system that makes it possible to provide the driver and/or the passengers of a vehicle, for example of an automobile, of a truck or of any other vehicle, contents of an informational nature, for example information about the operation of the vehicle, on the route to be followed or on traffic, and/or entertainment contents, for example music, videos or any other multimedia content, and to enable driver and/or the passengers to control parameters or features of the vehicle and of mobile devices or contents.

Prior art

Current infotainment systems generally comprise a multiplicity of output apparatuses, which are located inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle so as to be able to emit and transmit to the occupants informational and/or entertainment contents through visual and/or acoustic signals.

These output apparatuses can comprise for example displays, head-up displays that project images on the windshield of the vehicle or on other surfaces, light indicator lights, needle indicators and speakers with related amplifiers.

To command all these output apparatuses, infotainment systems also comprise a plurality of input apparatuses, including, for example, pushbuttons, knobs, levers, touchscreens, microphones for detecting voice commands, optical or capacitive apparatuses for the detection of gestural commands and other resistive or capacitive interfaces.

Currently, all these input and/or output apparatuses are controlled by a central processing unit, commonly called head unit, which is generally based on a digital computation system, for example on microprocessor.

The central processing unit is able to offer features of a car radio, of a reader or audio and video contents from different sources, including sources connected via wire or wireless, for example to reproduce audio and video contents saved on external reproduction or storage devices. The central processing unit can also be provided with many other functionalities, such as navigator, on-board diagnostics, adjustment and personalisation of the vehicle and of the driver's and passengers' preferences, traffic information and safety functionalities, including modern driver assistance functionalities (e.g. ADAS).

The main drawbacks of these infotainment system stem from the fact that the computational resources necessary for their operation are currently concentrated in the central processing unit, which is closely integrated in the vehicle and to which all output and/or input apparatuses are directly connected, constituting in fact the peripherals of a single computation system of which the central processing unit is substantially the CPU.

Specifically, one of the classic drawbacks of this extremely rigid architecture is that, if the car manufacturer has to change the number, the assortment or the type of the output and/or input apparatuses, for example to make vehicles with different equipment fittings, it often must modify the central processing unit, using different processors with higher performance levels, for example able to manage a higher number of peripheral, and consequently redesigning the entire connection architecture, with a very significant increase in development times and costs.

Another drawback of current infotainment system is that, to continue to provide ever more advanced and reliable services, vehicle manufacturers have to rapidly develop extremely complex software applications for which they do not always possess adequate competencies and resources.

This drawback typically leads to the implementation of services that, compared to the same services available in the consumer world, are often lacking in terms of features, graphics, performance and upgradability.

By way of example, one can mention the reduced performance of the voice recognition systems currently installed on cars which, not being able to rely on the user base and on the deep learning systems of the corresponding consumer systems, normally are less effective than the voice assistants successfully used by billions of users through their smartphones. Similarly, a significant difference in quality can be observed between the satellite navigation software installed in cars and those usable through smartphones which, in addition to being more advanced in terms of features and graphics, are also provided with real-time updates for example on traffic conditions or on any road work in progress, thanks to the interaction of the individual devices with the cloud computing systems on which these consumer navigation systems are based.

Another drawback of infotainment systems for vehicle is that software upgrades are only possible when the manufacturer releases a new version of the firmware to be installed in the central processing unit, which must include the upgrades of all applications, both those more closely connected to the features of the vehicle, and those more closely connected to navigation, to the radio, to entertainment and in general to the more consumer oriented features.

Unless the vehicle is provided with a modem or other costly systems for connecting to the Internet, installing the aforesaid upgrade sometimes requires bringing the vehicle in to an authorised auto repair shop, or using USB flash drives or SD Cards prepared by the user.

Another drawback of current infotainment systems is that typically the processors used to build the central processing units are derivations of products already launched in previous years in the consumer world, because the low production volumes of the automotive industry (relative to the production volumes of the consumer world) do not justify specific developments, but mere re-adaptations focused mostly on reliability in a more critical environment in terms of temperature ranges, vibrations and environmental conditions compared to the consumer product market.

As a result, the automotive world suffers from an intrinsic backwardness of the hardware already from the time the vehicle is launched, which is then aggravated by the fact that the average lifespan of a vehicle is ten years, during which the installed hardware continues to age.

Hence, just a few years from the launch of a vehicle, the on-board hardware is completely obsolete compared to the hardware found in contemporary consumer systems, for example in smartphones, which are not only able to employ more modern processors with shorter development times, but are also replaced much more frequently by users compared to a vehicle.

A first attempt in the direction of providing more flexible infotainment systems was made with the introduction of software interfacing platforms that allow the use of third party consumer applications on the infotainment system of a car by connection with a mobile device, for example typically with a smartphone.

Although these interfacing platforms improve the user interface and experience, they allow the use of only one display of the vehicle, normally the main display of the central processing unit positioned between driver and passenger, which merely shows what would be shown on the display of the smartphone or of another connected mobile device.

Another drawback of these connection systems is that, to assure the stability and security of the connection, it is normally necessary to connect the smartphone to the central processing unit of the vehicle through a cable, typically USB.

It should also be noted that very few third party applications are currently compatible with the interfacing platforms and that, oftentimes, the manufacturers of these platforms intentionally prevent competitors' applications from functioning within their own system.

An additional drawback is that the automobile manufacturer is often obligated to pay software user licences and to forgo graphics that are customised according to the brand and matched with its own infotainment, because interfacing platforms typically have a standard interface and do not accommodate customised graphics.

Another system to try to improve current infotainment systems is based on mirroring technologies, which make it possible to mirror the contents of a smartphone or of another mobile device on the main display of the vehicle and to control the smartphone remotely. However, there are drawbacks in this case, too. Specifically, not all smartphones allow the mirroring of the device. Moreover, mirroring allows contents to be mirrored on only one display, with a form factor of the image that is imposed by the mobile device, and with particularly high bandwidth occupation, because the system entails continuous streaming of audio and video contents between the smartphone and the central processing unit. Therefore, mirroring generally requires a wired connection of the smartphone with the central processing unit, because the wireless systems proposed hitherto present bandwidth saturation problems, markedly worsening the stability of the connection and thus the user experience.

All interfacing platforms outlined above, moreover, fail to solve the drawbacks tied to the intrinsic rigidity of current infotainment systems, such as those tied to the precocious obsolescence of the hardware of the car or those tied to the difficulty in reconfiguring the infotainment structure, so they allow solely the transmission of a stream of data to the central processing unit, which remains in any case the sole device tasked with controlling the operation of the different peripherals mounted aboard the vehicle, for example displays, speakers, microphones, etc.

Description of the invention

An object of the present invention is to overcome or at least to reduce by a significant extent the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art. Another object is to achieve the aforesaid objective within the scope of a simple, rational solution with relatively low cost.

These and other objects are attained thanks to the features of the invention that are set out in the independent claims. The dependent claims outline preferred and/or particularly advantageous solutions of the invention.

In particular, an embodiment of the present invention makes available an automotive infotainment system comprising at least one local area network installed aboard a vehicle and able to connect at least one server device, separate or separable from the vehicle, with a plurality of client devices mounted aboard the vehicle and individually provided with at least one output and/or input apparatus.

Differently from all currently known systems, the infotainment system of the present invention is in the form of a client/server system, i.e. of a computer network architecture in which each client device, taken here to be a sort of computation device, for example a computer (more or less advanced) provided with its own processing unit, based for example on a microprocessor or microcontroller, connects to the server device, also taken to be a computational device provided with its own processing unit, and in which said server device is able to make available at least a certain service, such as the sharing of a certain hardware and/or software resource available on the server device, to the other client devices.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the server device can be a mobile or portable device which can be carried on the vehicle and removed from the vehicle.

For example, the server device can be selected in the group consisting of: a smartphone, a portable personal computer and a tablet.

In this way, the server device is completely available to the user of the vehicle, who will be able to carry it with him/her at all times and use it for other purposes as well.

Preferably, the server device can comprise a connectivity module able to establish a data connection with at least one mobile telephony network, for example GSM, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G or other variants.

In this way, the server device will advantageously be able to be connected to the Internet.

Preferably, the server device can be connected to the local area network of the vehicle through a wireless connection, for example Wi-Fi™, Bluetooth™ or other wireless connection system (e.g. capacitive coupling).

In this way, the system is convenient and easy to use, inasmuch as it is not necessary to utilise inconvenient wires to connect the server device to the local area network of the vehicle.

Although the wireless connection is preferable, it is also possible to connect the server device ot the local area network of the vehicle through a wired connection as well, for example with USB or Ethernet technology.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the server device could be located in a remote position outside the vehicle.

Thanks to this latter solution, the operation of the infotainment system does not require the user to carry any server device with him/her, as it is sufficient for him/her to connect the local area network of his/her vehicle to the remote server device, for example through GSM, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G connection or other variants thereof, installed inside the vehicle and able to assure a connection to the Internet or to another network.

In particular, the server device located in a remote position outside the vehicle could be a virtual machine, which in turn could be made available to the user by means of cloud computing and virtualisation technologies, thereby providing hardware resources that are scalable and proportional to the user's needs.

Preferably, the client devices of the infotainment system can be mounted aboard to vehicle in an irremovable manner.

In this way, each vehicle can have its own set-up which gives it a characteristic connotation according to the manufacturer's requirements and choices.

According to one aspect of the invention, each client devices can comprise at least one of the following output and/or input apparatuses: a visualisation apparatus (e.g. display, touchscreen, projector, LED, ...), a sound emitting apparatus (e.g. speaker), a sound acquisition apparatus (e.g. microphone), a video acquisition apparatus (e.g. TV camera), a manual command acquisition apparatus (e.g. keyboard, pushbuttons, levers, knobs, dials), a vehicle parameter acquisition apparatus (e.g. sensors), an apparatus for monitoring the psychological and physical conditions of the driver or of the passengers, an apparatus for monitoring the presence of adults, children, animals inside the vehicle (105).

Through these output and/or input apparatuses, the infotainment device is advantageously able to provide the driver and/or the passengers with all the contents they require, while enabling them to interact with and to command the server device.

According to another aspect of the invention, the local area network of the vehicle can comprise a plurality of communication channels able to connect each client device to the server device by means of a connection control unit (e.g. router).

In this way, a very simple solution is provided to obtain at least one local area network that enables the client devices to access the services and the resources of the server device and vice versa.

From the above, it is readily apparent that the proposed architecture makes it possible to overcome or at least to greatly mitigate most of the drawbacks of currently known infotainment systems.

In particular, it is possible for the user to make up for the aging and the obsolescence of the hardware simply by periodically replacing the server device, typically the smartphone, with a more advanced and up to date device, which will be able to interface with all client devices present on the vehicle, simply by connecting to the local area network of the vehicle.

The proposed infotainment system also has the advantage of allowing for a simpler, quicker upgrading of all software, since such upgrading can take place at any appropriate place and time, simply by connecting the server device to the Internet and to the appropriate software repositories in which the updated versions of the software are periodically uploaded by developers, for example for smartphones and tables the common application marketplaces.

In addition, the server device may not be strictly dedicated to a single vehicle but may be used with a multiplicity of different vehicles, outfitted differently, inasmuch as, connecting to the local area network of each of these vehicles, the server device will recognise the client devices available to it and will be able to make the best use of them, whilst retaining all the features and services selected by the user. The proposed infotainment system thus achieves a drastic change in approach, shifting from a rigid infotainment system tied to the vehicle, as are those of the prior art, to a more dynamic, flexible and customisable infotainment system tied to the user.

This system also provides a marked advantage for vehicle manufacturers, because the hardware mounted aboard the vehicle will be limited only to the client devices, to the network connections and to any router provided to control the local area network or networks, and such devices are far less subject to obsolescence than are the current central processing units, thus making it possible to propose to the market vehicles that remain current longer, and with lower production and upgrading costs.

Manufacturers will also be able to modify the outfitting of their own vehicles in a simpler, faster way, because it will not be necessary to replace the central processing unit and redesign the entire connection structure but it will be sufficient to mount on the vehicle and to connect to the local area network the new client device or devices, which will be able to be immediately recognised and utilised by the server device according to their own characteristics and capabilities.

In more detail, the server device can comprise an electronic processing unit and a server software that, when executed by the electronic processing unit of the server device, makes said electronic processing unit capable of providing the various client devices with the requested contents and services. As stated previously, the server device can thus be an actual computational device provided with a processing unit on which the server software is installed, whose execution enables each client device connected to the local area network to access the services and the hardware and/or software resources of the server device and of any other client devices, according to a pre-set logic and pre-set system rules.

In addition, the server software can also implement appropriate techniques for access management, resource allocation and release, resource and data sharing and security. Thus typically the server device can be a mobile device, for example a smartphone, on which a server software is installed that is capable of interfacing with the local area network of the vehicle on one site and with the hardware and software resources of the mobile device on the other.

According to an aspect of the invention, the server software can be interfaceable with one or more software applications installed on the server device, such as audio and video multimedia reproduction applications, satellite navigation applications, messaging applications, electronic mail and/or social network applications, video games, word processing applications and/or spreadsheets, applications for the creation of presentations, appointment books, calendars, notebooks, and every other application installable in the server device, for example in a table, smartphone or portable computer.

Thanks to this solution, the infotainment system can advantageously use the client devices mounted aboard the vehicle (equipped for example with displays, speakers and controls) to provide the driver and the passengers of the vehicle with the contents and the potential of all these software applications, which can be created and updated independently by the developers of the consumer world who supply them.

In this way, it will be possible to drastically reduce the automobile manufacturers' effort in the software field, because the only development and upgrade work required will be related to the management of the local area network and of any client devices, whilst all or most of the software applications that supply the contents to the infotainment system may be supplied by third parties, with the typical advantages of the consumer world with regard to development, features and upgrades.

Naturally, the server software may be configured to use multiple software applications simultaneously, which may be made available to users through different client devices present on the same vehicle, for example through two or more distinct displays.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the server software can comprise one or more interface software sets, each of which is able to interface the server software with a respective software application.

For example, these interface software sets may be configured to utilise the APIs (Application Programming Interface) that the developer of every software application generally makes available to access the data and/or the features of its own application, thus allowing the server software to provide these data and/or these features to the user through the client devices mounted on the vehicle in a manner that is customised and as usable as possible.

This embodiment allows a valid interfacing of the server software to the various software applications but requires a great effort on the part of the server software developer, because (s)he will have to develop and maintain up to date an interface software for each application to be interfaced.

To overcome this drawback, according to an embodiment of the invention the server software can comprise its own interfacing software (API) able to allow each software application to interface with the server software.

In this way, the programming effort for the integration of each software application with the server software will be transferred to the developer of the software application, who will have the advantage of greater freedom as to how to make its application usable through the client devices mounted on the vehicle.

According to another aspect of the invention, the server software can further comprise a software code that makes the electronic processing unit of the server device able to carry out the mirroring of a display of the server device on at least one display of a client device.

In this way, the server software can be able to exploit for the purposes of the infotainment system also software applications that do not make the APIs available and/or that have not developed a code able to use the APIs of the server software.

Alternatively, the server software can comprise a software code that makes the electronic processing unit of the server device capable of generating at least one virtual screen, of carrying out on this virtual screen the rendering of the graphic interface of at least one of the software applications and of transmitting said rendering to a physical display of a client device.

In this way, it can advantageously be possible to adapt the dimensions of the graphic interface of the software application to different dimensions of the various displays that can be installed on the same vehicle and/or on vehicles fitted with different equipment.

Examining now the client devices, each of these devices can comprise an electronic processing unit and a client software which, when executed by the electronic processing unit of the client device, makes said processing unit able to interface with the server device through the local area network of the vehicle.

Thus, each client device is also a sort of computational device (typically simpler than the server device, for example microcontroller based or otherwise provided with minimal hardware resources) provided with a processing unit on which the client software is installed, whose execution enables the client device to access the services and the hardware and/or software resources of the server device and any other client devices.

In particular, the client software can make the electronic processing unit of the client device able to communicate to the server device identifying data and technical specifications of the client device itself, for example the position on the vehicle, the number and the type of inputs and outputs it may make available, the characteristics of each input and output (example, for a display, the size and/or resolution of the screen).

In this way, every time it is connected to the local area network of a vehicle, the server device is immediately informed of all the client devices available on that vehicle and can manage the infotainment contents, adapting them and optimising them for those client devices.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the infotainment system can also comprise a central processing unit mounted aboard the vehicle and connected to the local area network, which can comprise an electronic processing unit and a management software that, when executed by the processing unit of the central processing unit, makes said processing unit able to provide contents and/or services to the various client devices. Through this solution, it is advantageously possible to make the infotainment system of the vehicle operate, at least in a simplified form thereof, even if the mobile or remote server device is not available, for example because of a fault.

In this context, the management software installed in the central processing unit can be a simplified version of the server software, for example for the sole purpose of enabling the basic features of the infotainment system, such as the safety functions and/or those connected with driving.

In the same way, the electronic processing unit of the central processing unit can consist of hardware that is not particularly advanced and complex, consequently reducing costs.

According to an aspect of the invention, the central processing unit can also comprise a backup software which, when executed by the central processing unit, makes said processing unit able to store at least a part of the data and/or of the software applications installed on the server device.

In this way, at least a part of the functionalities normally executed by the server device can always be available and executed by the central processing unit of the infotainment system, even when the server device is not connected to the local area network.

According to another aspect of the invention, the vehicle can comprise a connectivity module able to establish a data connection between the central processing unit and at least one mobile telephony network, for example GSM, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G or other variants.

This connectivity module can be included in the central processing unit or it can be connected thereto.

The presence of this connectivity module aboard the vehicle can provide the connection to the Internet at the user's choice or if the server device (for example, smartphone) is not present aboard or does not have sufficient signal strength, and it can also be used to manage in a manner that is secure, deterministic and independent of the server device some safety services, for example automatic emergency call (eCall) services or online payment services.

According to another aspect of the invention, the vehicle can also comprise a connectivity module able to establish a wireless data connection, for example the protocol IEEE 802.1 1 p, ETSI ITS-G5 or other medium range wireless communication protocols, between the central processing unit and other vehicles and/or external infrastructures and hence to the users of the infrastructures (pedestrian, cyclists, etcetera).

This connectivity module, too, can be included in the central processing unit or it can be connected thereto.

This connectivity module enables the infotainment device to offer services and connections that are not provided on the server device, for example V2X (vehicle-to-everything) connection systems, the contents of which may be exploited by the server software or by other software applications to improve service to the user, for example providing real time data on road conditions, road work, parking availability, fuel prices in the closest filling stations, status of nearby vehicles, safety indications, presence of pedestrians or cyclists, students coming out of schools, etc.

According to a different aspect of the invention, the infotainment system can comprise a plurality of server devices (e.g. smartphones).

Each of these server devices can belong for example to a different user of the vehicle, for example to the driver and to the passengers, and can be connected with the local area network in such a way as to interface with a sub-multiple of the client devices positioned on the vehicle, for example only with the client devices that are available to that user.

Purely by way of example, the driver's server device could manage the display positioned in the dashboard and/or the display positioned in the central console, while the server device of one of the passengers seated in the rear seats could manage the display positioned in the backrest of the front seat in front of him/her.

According to an additional aspect of the invention, the infotainment system can comprise a first antenna positioned outside the vehicle to receive and transmit signals from/to a mobile telephony network, a second antenna positioned inside the vehicle and a signal repeater able to transmit signals between the first antenna and the second antenna.

This solution is useful to assure a good and stable connection of the server device to the Internet, in consideration of the fact that very often the signals from mobile telephone network coming from external antennas are highly attenuated inside the vehicle because of the presence of the chassis and of the body of the vehicle itself.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the server device can be a processing device, for example smartphone, tablet, portable computer or computer, irremovably fastened to the car, for example in the console between driver and passenger or on the steering wheel.

This processing device can be pre-configured by the vehicle manufacturer and it may be customisable by the user. Said processing device can also be connectable according to standard methodologies and networks (for example by means of Bluetooth™, Wi/Fi™, USB cable, Ethernet or through cloud computing services) to a mobile device of the user (e.g. smartphone, tablet or portable computer).

Although this configuration is more limited than the previous ones, nonetheless it does solve most of the problems of current infotainment systems and allows for easy upgrades to the vehicles, adding, compared to the use of the user's mobile device only, the advantage of greater control on the server device hosting the server software. It is possible to concentrate all consumer services in the computational device that serves as a server device, equal or similar to the one the user would have available, but set up for the purpose by the vehicle manufacturer company, whilst assuring hardware stability and reliability for all the other units and features of the vehicle. This configuration also makes it possible to be unaffected by any oversights of the user who may not have his/her mobile device with him/her, but who would still be able to enjoy all the services of the infotainment system.

According to one aspect of this embodiment of the invention, the server device supplied by the vehicle manufacturer company can become a client if a server device available to the user (for example, smartphone or table) is present, so that the server device supplied by the vehicle manufacturer company can serve as a backup system of the preferential server device. Lastly, the present invention also makes available a method for providing infotainment contents to the occupants of a vehicle, which generally comprises connecting at least one server device, separate or separable from the vehicle, with a plurality of client devices mounted aboard the vehicle, through a local area network mounted aboard the vehicle.

This embodiment allows to obtain all the effects and advantages described with reference to the infotainment system outlined above.

All the aspects of the invention explained previously with reference to the infotainment system are understood to be applicable to the method as well, and all the operations carried out by the system are understood to be translatable into corresponding steps of the method.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention shall become readily apparent from reading the following description, provided by way of non- limiting example, with the aid of the figures illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of an infotainment system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figures from 2 to 4 schematically show three software configurations of the server device of the infotainment system of figure 1 .

Detailed description

An embodiment of the present invention makes available an infotainment system 100 for a vehicle 105. The vehicle 105 can be an automobile for transporting persons, but it could also be a truck, a van, a bus, a work vehicle, a watercraft (e.g. sailboat, motor yacht and many more), an airplane, a train or in general any vehicle, motorised or driven by another energy source.

The vehicle 105 can generally comprise a passenger compartment, which can house the driving controls (for example the steering wheel and the brake, accelerator and transmission controls) as well as the seat(s) for the driver and for any passengers.

Driving controls can be associated to a screen, instrument panel or a dashboard positioned in the forward part of the passenger compartment, which in turn can comprise a central console that is interposed between the driver's seat and any front seat for a passenger.

The infotainment system 100 comprises at least one local area network, globally indicated with the reference number 1 10, which is installed aboard the vehicle 105 and to which are connected at least one server device 1 15 and a plurality of client devices 120.

In practice, the infotainment system 100 is in the form of a client/server system, i.e. a network IT architecture in which each client device 120 can connect to the server device 1 15 for the utilisation of a certain service, for example sharing a certain hardware/software resource with the server device 1 15 itself and/or with the other client devices 120.

The server device 1 15 can be a "computer" or another computational device comprising its own electronic processing unit 125, for example microprocessor-based, and a processor software, called "server software" and schematically indicated with the number 130.

The server software 130 can be stored in a memory unit of the server device 1 15 (not shown) and, when it is executed by the processing unit 125, it enables said processing unit 125 to manage the local area network 1 10, for example managing an exchange of data and/or commands between the server device 1 15 and the client devices 120.

The server device 1 15 can be a mobile device which can be carried aboard the vehicle 105, for example inside the passenger compartment, are moved away from the vehicle 105 by its own user, for example by the driver or by one of the passengers.

In a preferred embodiment, the server device 1 15 is a smartphone but in other embodiments the server device 105 can be a tablet, a portable computer, a handheld computer or any other type of portable or traditional computer.

Preferably, the server device 1 15 can comprise a display (e.g. a touchscreen) and/or a connectivity module 135, for example a modem, which can be connected with the processing unit 125 and can be able to establish a data connection (Internet) with at least one mobile telephony network, for example GSM, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G or other variants.

It should be noted that the passenger compartment of the vehicle 105 can sometimes shield mobile telephony signals, such as GSM, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G or other variants, behaving at least partially like a Faraday cage.

For this reason, the infotainment system 100 can comprise a first antenna or set of antennas 250, positioned on the vehicle 105 but outside the passenger compartment to receive and transmit signals from/to the mobile telephony network, a second antenna or set of antennas 255, positioned inside the passenger compartment, to receive and transmit signals from/to the server device 105, for example through the connectivity module 135, and one or more signal repeaters (boosters) 260 able to transmit signals between the external antenna or set of antennas 250 and the internal antenna or set of antennas 255, so as to place the server device 1 15 in communication with the mobile telephony network.

Alternatively or additionally, the infotainment system 100 could comprise a modem 215 installed aboard the vehicle 105, which can connect to the mobile telephony network through its own antenna or set of antennas, for example positioned on the vehicle outside the passenger compartment. This modem 215 could share the connectivity to the Internet with the communication network or networks inside the vehicle and hence connect with the server device 1 15 positioned inside the passenger compartment, thus enabling the server device 1 15 to access the Internet.

According to one embodiment, the server device 1 15 can be a computation device, for example tablet, computer or smartphone, irremovably fastened to the vehicle 105, and supplied directly, already configured, by the vehicle manufacturer.

With regard now to the client devices 120, each of these devices can in turn be a computer or other computational device comprising its own electronic processing unit 140 (generally simpler and having lower computation capacity than that of the server device 1 15), for example but not necessarily based on a microprocessor or microcontroller, and a computer program, called "client software" and indicated schematically with the reference number 145.

The client software 145 can be integrated in the processing unit 140 (e.g. in the form of firmware) or stored in a memory unit connected thereto.

When executed by the processing unit 140, the client software 145 makes said processing unit 140 able to interface with the server device 1 15 and/or with the other client devices 120 through the local area network 1 10.

Each client device 120 can also comprise at least one output and/or input apparatus 147, which can be connected and controlled by the corresponding processing unit 140, so as to collect data, commands, and /or to provide contents, for example multimedia contents, to users. In general terms, the output and/or input apparatus 147 of each client device 120 can be selected among: a display apparatus (e.g. display, touchscreen, projector), a sound emitting apparatus (e.g. speaker), a sound acquisition apparatus (e.g. microphone), a video acquisition apparatus (e.g. tv camera), a manual command acquisition apparatus (e.g. keyboard, pushbuttons, levers, knobs, dials, touch controls, gestures, gaze), a vehicle parameter acquisition apparatus (e.g. sensors), an apparatus for the acquisition of biometric parameters and/or for monitoring the state of health and of presence of the passengers (e.g. presence sensor, biometric sensors for reading fingerprints, iris scanning, face recognition, sleep sensor, measurement of vital parameters such as heart rate, EKG, or breathing ...).

Some client devices 120 can comprise a plurality of these output and/or input apparatuses, which can be connected to the same processing unit 140, especially to reduce costs when said input/output apparatuses are relatively simple.

For example, a plurality of sensors or a plurality of manual keys can be connected to a same processing unit 140 to globally form a single client device 120.

Client devices 120 can be installed inside the vehicle 105 irremovably, for example inside the passenger compartment where the respective output and/or input apparatuses 147 can be incorporated in the dashboard, in the central console, in the seats or in any other element of the upholstery or appropriate position.

By way of example, the client devices 120 of the infotainment system 100 could comprise one or more of the following output and/or input apparatuses 147: a display positioned in the dashboard in front of the driver or on the steering wheel or a projector to project images on the windshield; a touchscreen positioned in the central console; an additional touchscreen integrated in the driver's and/or in the passenger's seat to be usable by the passengers of the rear seats; one or more speakers and/or microphones; a tv camera for the recognition of faces and gestures, etc.

Naturally, this list of output and/or input apparatuses 147 is not deemed exhaustive, like their combination and position, which could be multiple and different from vehicle to vehicle, according to the choice and the equipment fittings proposed by manufacturers.

This multiplicity of equipment fittings is nevertheless not an obstacle because the client software 145 of each client device 120 will be able to communicate to the server software 130 of the server device 1 15, through the local area network 1 10, the type of input/output apparatus/apparatuses 147 with which it is equipped, also identifying their technical characteristics (e.g. dimensions and resolution of a display) and the position on the vehicle 105, thereby allowing the server client software 130 to best exploit them.

For the server software 130 residing in the server device 1 15 to be able to interface, command and receive commands, and to receive and send data streams from and to the client software 145 residing in the client devices 120, the local area network 1 10 comprises a plurality of communication channels between the server device 1 15 and the client devices 120.

Through these communication channels, which can be wired or wireless, the server software 130 can receive and send commands and data streams from and to the client devices 120, which can be connected according to a point- point, star or ring network architecture, depending also on the type of connection selected.

In this regard, the local area network can comprise for example a connection control unit 150 (e.g. a router) mounted aboard the vehicle 105, which can be placed in communication with the server device 1 15 through one or more connections.

These connections can comprise a wired connection, such as USB, FireWire, HDMI, Ethernet, etc. and/or a wireless connection, such as Wi-Fi™, Bluetooth™ or others.

Each of these connections can be obtained by means of an appropriate hardware module 155, installed on the server device 1 15 and connected with the processing unit 125, so as to be accessible to the server software 130, for example through the operating system of the server device 1 15.

This hardware module 155 interfaces with a corresponding hardware module 160, installed on the vehicle 105 and connected with the connection control unit 150, which is able to exchange streams of data and of commands, in accordance with the selected communication protocol (e.g. Wi-Fi™, Bluetooth™, USB or other), with the hardware module 155 of the server device 1 15.

The connection of the server device 1 15 to the connection control unit 150 can also take place by inductive or capacitive data transmission techniques, also called proximity or contactless techniques.

In particular, the server device 1 15 could be connected to the connection control unit 150 by means of a capacitive system of the type described in patent application WO2017025833 by the same applicant, which allows both the transfer of data and the transmission of electrical power, with an implementation that is particularly flexible, economic and advantageous.

It should be noted that use of a wireless connection and charging system of this type, e.g. by setting the server device 105 on an appropriate pad or slot obtained inside the vehicle 105, is particularly advantageous because the massive utilisation of the server device 1 15 entails a considerable utilisation of energy, and because with a single technology it is possible both to recharge the server device 1 15 and to effect the connection to the connection control unit 150.

The client devices 120 can in turn be connected to the connection control unit 150 through one or more communication bus, for example Ethernet, MOST, Flexray, CAN, LIN, HDMI, USB communication bus, or another automotive bus or in general another suitable bus.

For example, client devices 120 that need broadband, for example those that comprise displays, audio systems, speakers and/or video cameras, can be connected to the connection control unit 150 through an Ethernet, MOST or Flexray bus, or another high bandwidth bus, for example according to a star, ring or mixed architecture.

Client devices 120 that need less bandwidth or that have specific needs to connect to the vehicle 105, such as those that comprise pushbuttons, knobs, levers and/or LED lights, can instead be connected to buses like CAN, LIN or other buses characterised by low bandwidth and high reliability, also for example according to a star or ring or mixed architecture.

Some of the buses used can also bring both data connectivity and electrical power to the individual client devices 120, for example using a protocol like

Power over Ethernet (PoE), USB Power Delivery or others.

Some client devices 120 could be connected to the connection control unit 150 also through wireless connections, for example Wi-Fi™ or Bluetooth™, or through inductive or capacitive data transmission techniques (contactless) data transmission techniques.

In this case, too, one or more of the client devices 120 can be connected to the connection control unit 150 by means of a capacitive system of the type described in the patent application WO2017025833 by the same applicant. Concerning the software side of the infotainment system 100, the server software 130 residing on the server device 1 15 can be able to interface, command and receive commands, as well as to receive and send data streams from and to the client devices 120, in particular from and to the corresponding client software 145.

Similarly, the server software 130 can be able to interface, command and receive commands from the hardware of the server device 1 15 on which it is installed, as well as from the operating system of the server device if the latter allows it.

The server software 130 can also be able to interface with one or more software applications 165, each of which can be installed on the server device 1 15, for example stored on a memory unit of the server device 1 15 to be executed by the processing unit 125, or installed on a remote server which the server device 1 15 accesses passing through the Internet.

These software applications 165 can be developed by software-houses that are independent of the vehicle manufacturer (for example by softwarehouses dedicated to the consumer market) and can include, but are not limited to, audio and video multimedia reproduction applications, analogue and digital radio tuning applications, satellite navigation applications, messaging, electronic mail, social network applications, applications dedicated to the automobile, for example Android Auto™ or Apple CarPlay™, video games, productivity applications, for example word processing, spreadsheets, instruments for the creation of presentations, appointment books, calendars, notepads, and every other application installable on the server device 1 15. It should be stressed that the server software 130 can be able to interface with multiple software applications 165 functioning simultaneously and in a totally independent manner.

The server software 130 can be installed on the server device 1 15, for example on the smartphone, like any application available on the normal official distribution channels of the applications, for example Apple Store™ or Google Play Store™.

The server software 130 can behave as a web server, to serve the requests coming from the client software 145 residing on the client devices 120, and/or it may behave as an interface with the other software applications 165 present on the server device 1 15, carrying data streams and commands. On the other hand, each software client 145 can behave for example as a web browser and can be able, inter alia, to send requests, for example HTTP or AJAX, to the server software 130 in execution on the server device 1 15 and to receive from it a result to be transmitted to the users of the vehicle 105 (e.g. driver and/or passengers) through its own output and/or input apparatus 147 (e.g. display).

For example, the client software 145 of a client device 120 could receive a result to be displayed on a screen, such as a graphic interface in the form of a web page or a video stream.

This mode based on video stream can be useful if it is desired to shift the computational load on the server device 1 15, for example to execute complex rendering, including 3D, exploiting the high computation capacities of the server device 1 15 itself.

Thanks to this exchange of data and/or commands between the server device 1 15 and the client devices 120, the functionalities of the infotainment system 100, for example reproduction of audio and video multimedia contents, navigation, messaging systems, email, notifications, traffic support and connectivity services and any other functionality, can thus be performed by the corresponding software applications 165 that are executed by the processing unit 125 of the server device 1 15, for example of the smartphone, and that send and receive commands and/or data streams to and from the server software 130.

The server software 130, depending on the software application 165 that is executed, on the commands and on the authorisations associated with said software application 165, can send and receive commands and data streams to and from the connection control unit 150, which in turn addresses said commands and data streams to and from appropriate client devices 120 mounted in the vehicle 105.

Taking into account that all modern portable devices, such as smartphones, are provided with high computing power and with hardware and software conceived for multitasking operations, it is clear that the proposed architecture allows for the execution of multiple software applications 165 simultaneously, for example the reproduction of a video and a road navigation application, and to reproduce and control each of these software applications through an appropriate client device 1 20 of the vehicle 105, for example the one that comprises the output and/or input apparatuses 147 more indicated for that type of application.

For example, video or other contents that can distract the driver could be reproduced by a client device 120 comprising a display available only to passengers, for example integrated in the backrest of the front seats, while the navigator or other non-distracting contents could be reproduced by a client device 120 that comprises the main display located in the dashboard or in the central console of the vehicle 105 with a specific simplified graphic interface to facilitate interaction with the driver and not to be distracting.

Merely by way of example, on the main display it may be possible to visualise any navigation application, traffic information, and applications for paying tools and managing parking payments, audio reproduction systems, including high quality ones, provided they are authorised by the server software 130 inasmuch as they are not distracting and have suitable graphics that are easy to understand and use even while driving.

Similarly, with further simplified graphics (particularly simple and immediate icons, notices, graphics) it is possible to offer to the driver on the dashboard or instrument panel indications and information about the roads, traffic and the city, such as advanced connectivity contents and smart cities, notices and previews of messages, in addition, clearly, to the normal indications present on the dashboard such as tachometer, speed indicator, odometer, indicator lights pertaining to the operating condition of the vehicle, etc.

Through the displays dedicated to the passengers, the server software 130 instead can enable passengers to view contents that otherwise could distract the driver, for example films and videos, utility software such as word processing systems, spreadsheets, presentations, email exchange systems, social networks with complete interface, video games or any other productivity or entertainment application.

It should thus be stressed that the server software 130 can be able not only to manage multiple software applications 165 simultaneously, but also to command and direct said software applications towards different client devices 120.

In addition to the client devices 120 that comprise displays and controls, this also applies for client devices 120 that comprise, among their output and/or input apparatuses 147, microphones and/or speakers. In this way it would thus be possible to create sound zones dedicated to each passenger, each able to accept voice commands, give information and reproduce audio contents independently of the other zones, according to the application each passenger is using.

To optimise the sound zones, the server software 130 could effect an active cancellation of the sounds coming from the other sound zones and the noises of the passenger compartment and of the road. In addition to the microphones installed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, to cancel the sounds of the sound zones, the server software 130 could exploit the analysis of the audio streams directed to the various zones even before they are reproduced, since all these streams are managed by the server software 130 itself, thus allowing a better sound quality or a lower number of microphones to be used to collect the sounds of each zone to effect the active cancellation of the unwanted sounds.

Similar considerations can be made with regard to client devices 120 that comprise microphones useful to collect voice commands from each passengers and from the driver, for example to allow one or more software applications 165 that provide vocal assistants, also independently, to provide information, make searches, launch navigations, activate the reproduction of multimedia content, read or write emails or messages of any kind. In this way, thanks to the server software 130, each passenger could use his/her own vocal assistant, operating independently of the others on the server device 1 15, and made available through interaction with microphones and speakers of each zone of the vehicle.

To allow interfacing between the server software 130 and the software applications 165 installed on the server device 1 15, and hence their use through the output and/or input apparatuses 147 of the client devices 120, for example displays, touchscreens, keys, dials, video cameras, microphones or speakers, it is possible to operate in different modes.

In a first mode, shown in figure 2, the server software 130 can comprise interface software 170, each of which is able to interface the server software 130 with a respective software application 165. This interface software 170 can exploit for example the API (Application Programming Interfaces) that each software application 165 generally makes available to developers. In this way, the server software 130 is able to dedicate and direct specific client devices 120 to each software application 165, but also to adapt the interface of the software application 165 the better to meet the aesthetic, functional or safety requirements needed for the client device 120 that is used.

In a second interfacing mode, shown in figure 3, the server software 130 can instead comprise its own application programming interface (API) able to allow each software application 165 to interface therewith.

In this way, each software application 165 may be provided with a software plug— n 175 that enables it to interface and to interact with the server software 130.

Thanks to this solution, the programming effort for the integration of each software application 165 with the server software 130 will be transferred from the developer of the server software 130 to the developer of the software application 165.

Specifically, the software plug-in 175 integrated in the software applications 165 can allow multiple functionalities such as imparting commands to the software application 165, receive and send data streams from and to the software application 165, carry out an automatic analysis of compliance with the rules of the server software 130 by the software application 165.

In particular the latter functionality is useful to determine automatically for each software application 165 who the possible users aboard the vehicle 105 are (passengers or driver) and through which client devices 120 the related contents are to be provided, for example on which display to visualise each application and by which method the user can interact (touchscreen, pushbuttons, knobs, etc.).

The rules imposed by the control system of the software plug-in 175 make it possible to use every software application 165 in the most appropriate way on any display format, even with simplified interface on safety-critical displays, to interact with voice commands regardless of the native support of the software application 165 and so on.

Thanks to this mode of integrating software applications 165 with the server software 130, the vehicle manufacturer can enormously expand the services and applications available, with no need to invest in onerous development teams, but simply creating an effective set of rules for the automatic approval of the applications on each client device 120 and on the related input/output apparatuses 147, because thousands of existing applications can be integrated in the infotainment system 100 in a way that is simple, fast and safe for driving.

It should be stressed that this advantage is also transferred to the end user, who is not limited to the few applications available in current infotainment systems, because the user him/herself can select the software applications 165 he/she prefers, try different ones, chose on a case by case basis the one that best suits his/her needs, change applications and interaction modes over time or according to the situation, adding new applications or services over the lifetime of the vehicle, etcetera.

For example, it is possible for the user to install multiple navigation systems and to use the preferred one as the default, but also to have others, for example more functional in conditions of poor reception of the signal of the mobile telephony network, conditions in which for example offline navigators are preferable to navigators requiring Internet connection, the latter, however, being particularly advantageous in normal connectivity conditions.

If some software applications 165 do not make their own API available and do not integrate a software plug-in 175, the server software 130 can be able to use such software applications 165 on the displays of the client devices 120 by means of mirroring techniques.

In particular, the server software 130 can comprise a software code that makes the electronic processing unit 125 of the server device 1 15 capable of executing the mirroring of the screen of the server device 1 15 (for example, the touchscreen of a smartphone).

In this way, commands imparted by users through the output and/or input apparatuses of the client devices 120, for example through a touchscreen or other input means present on the vehicle 105, are received and interpreted as inputs on the server device 1 15 so as to enable the user to interact fully without needing to have direct access to the server device 105 itself.

It should be stressed that this mechanism is entirely compatible with the simultaneous use of the server software 130 with other software applications 165 that are executed in the background and that can continue to be used independently on different screens and by different users.

This classic implementation of mirroring may not be wholly adequate when the screen on which the mirroring is to be reproduced has a resolution or a form aspect that differs from the original one of the server device 1 15, and furthermore it requires a one to one ratio between server device 1 15 and display of the vehicle 105.

To overcome this drawback, the server software 130 can comprise a software code that makes the electronic processing unit 125 of the server device 1 15 capable of generating one or more virtual screens 180 (see figure 4), of carrying out on each of these virtual screens 180 the rendering of the graphic interface of one of the software applications 165 and of transmitting said rendering to a display of one of the client devices 120.

In this way, the server device 1 15 is able to emulate at the operating system level the virtual screens 180, whose resolution and form aspect can be consistent with those signalled by the client devices 120 that comprise a display, and to execute and render a different software application 165 on each of these virtual screens 180.

The output of such rendering can then be transmitted through the local area network 1 10 to the correct client device 120, for example as a video stream, associating in turn the inputs of the client device 120, for example a physical touchscreen, to the corresponding virtual screen 180.

In this way, the software applications 165 that are transmitted by this mirroring technique are enabled to adapt their own interface in an optimal manner for the display of the vehicle 105 on which they will actually be shown.

It is stressed that through these modes it is thus possible to drive one or more client devices 120 provided with a screen with a single server device 1 15 using software applications 165 without any support to interfacing API or software plug-ins arranged for the server software 130, leaving the physical display of the server device 1 15 free, to be able to use it independently or to block its direct use or else to shut it off to limit the consumption of the server device 1 15.

Returning to figure 1 , the infotainment system 100 can also comprise a central processing unit 185 mounted aboard the vehicle 105 and connected to the local area network 1 10, for example through a dedicated communication channel with the connection control unit 150, which can comprise an electronic processing unit 190 and a management software 195 which, when executed by the processing unit 190, makes said processing unit 190 able to manage the local area network 1 10.

In this way, the infotainment system 100 can function even when the server device 1 15 is not connected with the local area network 1 10, for example because the user does not have one.

In this regard, it should be stressed, however, that the management software 195 installed on the central processing unit 185 need not be identical to the server software 130 installed on the server device 1 15, as it is sufficient for the central processing unit 185 to assure a series of basic functionalities necessary for utilisation of the vehicle 105.

These basic functionalities can include for example the communication (e.g. visualisation) of data relating to the speed of the vehicle 105, to the number of engine rpm, to the indicator and emergency lights, the execution of ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) and autonomous driving applications, and more in general all those applications and functionalities that must be assured for the correct and safe use of the vehicle 105. The central processing unit 185 can then comprise one or more software applications 200 which, when executed by the processing unit 190, enable said processing unit 195 to provide, through the output and/or input apparatuses 147 of the client devices 120, the aforesaid basic functionalities.

To generate and provide these functionalities, the central processing unit 185 can be interconnected to sensors of the vehicle 105, as well as to other units installed aboard the vehicle 105, according to existing standard interconnection modes, known in themselves.

For example, in some embodiments, the ADAS applications, the autonomous driving applications and other similar applications can be executed with the aid of one or more auxiliary and dedicated electronic units 265, which are installed on the vehicle 105 and can be connected with the central processing unit 185. For example, the decision-making part of these applications (e.g. automatic breaking, anti-skidding, autonomous driving, etc.) can be executed and managed by the units 265, while the connection with the central processing unit 185 can be used for managing acoustic/graphic warnings, for the selection of any customised user settings (e.g. ADAS systems disabled or modified intervention sensitivities) or else for the possible collection of statistical data (agreements with auto insurance companies, statistics on the manufacturer's applications, etc.).

Naturally, the central processing unit 185 will remain connected to the connection control unit 150, and therefore it will be able to transmit and receive data streams and commands to/from the client devices 120, even when the server device 1 15 is connected to the local area network 1 10.

In this way, an exchange of data and/or commands is possible also between the central processing unit 185 and the server device 1 15, which may for example receive from the central processing unit 185 the data relating to the operation of the vehicle and to use them in the execution of the software applications 165.

In this context, some contents to be reproduced or visualised on the output and/or input apparatuses 147 of the client devices 120, those more closely tied to entertainment, can be entirely generated by the server device 1 15, while the contents more closely correlated to the vehicle, such as the data pertaining to speed, engine rpm, indicator lights, fluid levels, vehicle diagnostics, safety indications, ADAS, etc., can entirely be generated by the central processing unit 185.

However, some contents can also be generated by the central processing unit 185 and at least partially populated (for example by adding some areas and/or menus) by the server device 1 15, so as to maintain the same graphics even when the server device 1 15 is not present; equally, other contents can be generated by the server device 1 15, reproduced on the output and/or input apparatuses 147 of the client devices 120 and at least partially populated (for example adding some areas and/or menus) by the central processing unit 185.

In addition, the central processing unit 185 can comprise one or more additional software applications 200 which, when executed by the processing unit 190, make said processing unit 190 able to provide at least some ancillary contents and/or services, for example more closely tied to entertainment.

These ancillary contents and/or services can substantially be a duplication of some of the contents and/or services that are normally provided by the software applications 165 residing on the server device 1 15, for example the reproduction of multimedia contents, such as radio, multimedia player, navigation systems or others.

In this way, at least a part of the functionalities normally provided by the server device 1 15 can still be provided by the central processing unit 185 when the server device 1 15 is not connected to the local area network 1 10, for example because of faults, oversights or malfunctions.

In this sense, the number and the variety of the software applications 200 installed in the central processing unit 185 can be more or less broad and complete according to the price range of the vehicle 105, for example low- range motor cars and vehicles may be provided only with strictly necessary functionalities, such as tachometer, speed, safety and emergency indicator lights, fluid levels, vehicle diagnostics, and other mandatory functions, while on vehicles of progressively higher range it is possible to provide also radio, multimedia, navigation and other services.

As shown in figure 1 , the central processing unit 1 85 can also comprise a backup software 210 which, when executed by the processing unit 190, while the server device 1 15 is connected to the local area network 1 10, makes said processing unit 190 able to store locally, for example on a storage unit (not shown) of the central processing unit 185, at least a part of the data and/or of the software applications 165 installed on the server device 15, so as to make them subsequently usable by the processing unit 190 itself.

In this way, at least a part of the functionalities normally executed by the server device 1 15, for example the reproduction of multimedia contents, such as radio, multimedia player, navigation systems or others, can always be available and executed by the central processing unit 185, even when the server device 1 15 is not connected to the local area network 1 10.

Naturally, it is also possible for the backup software 210 to execute a local copy of the server software 130 also, and possibly of all the software applications 165 present on the server device 1 15, so as to be able to replicate all of their functionalities.

However, it is evident that while this operating mode is the most complete and able to assure the best user experience even when the server device 1 15 is not present, has the drawback of requiring a central processing unit 185 provided with sizeable hardware resources, so that it is generally preferable for the backup software 210 to be able to store only a selected part of the software applications 165.

According to some embodiments, the central processing unit 185 or the vehicle 105 can further comprise one or more connectivity modules connected with the processing unit 190, for example a connectivity module 215 able to establish a data connection with at least one mobile telecommunication network, for example GSM, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G or other variants, and/or a connectivity module 220 able to establish a data connection via radio, for example the IEEE 802.1 1 p, ETS ITS-G5 protocols, or other medium range radio communication protocols, possibly dedicated to communication with the road infrastructure and/or with other vehicles (WAVE - Wireless Access in Vehicular Environment, in general, standards dedicated to V2X communication).

It is stressed that these connectivity modules 215 and 220 are not strictly necessary because, thanks in fact to the proposed architecture, the infotainment system 100 can always be connected to the Internet and/or to other service providers through the server device 1 15 which, in addition to populating with contents the various output and/or input apparatuses 147 (for example, displays) of the client devices 120, can also serve as a bridge between the remote services, for example Internet and others, and the infotainment system 100 itself, without additional hardware or subscription costs due to an Internet Service Provider.

On the other hand, however, the connectivity module 220 can offer services and connections that are not provided on the server device 1 15, for example the V2X (Vehicle-to-everything) connection systems, whose contents may be exploited by the server software 130 or by other software applications 165 residing on the server device 1 15 to improve the user experience, for example real time data on traffic conditions, works in progress, parking availability and costs, price of fuel in the nearest stations, state of nearby vehicles, safety indications, presence of pedestrians or cyclists, students coming out of schools, or other data that normally are not accessible by means of a standard connection such as GSM, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G or other variants and otherwise not suitable for the high latency values that are typical in connections of this type.

Similarly, the connectivity module 215 can serve as an auxiliary Internet connection system if the server device 1 15 is not present aboard the vehicle 105 or does not have sufficient signal strength (in this regard, it should be recalled that, inside the vehicle, signals from mobile telephony networks are often highly attenuated by the chassis and by the body of the vehicle).

The connectivity module 215 can also allow the management of safety systems, for example emergency eCall services, in a safe, deterministic manner that is independent of the server device 1 15.

For this purpose, the connectivity module 215 could thus provide specific contracts with high reliability and low bandwidth, i.e. having opposite characteristics with respect to the connection that is normally present on mobile device, such as smartphones, which normally provide high bandwidth, high download availability, but reliability rates that are normally too low with respect to the necessary safety standards required in the transport industry. Through the connectivity module 215, the central processing unit 185 could also be connected with a remote computer or computational device 225, typically but not necessarily virtual, which is in a remote position outside the vehicle 105 and to which the central processing unit 215 can access for example by means of a cloud computing system.

According to some embodiments, this remote computer 225 can be used as a backup system. In other words, in the infotainment system 100. a copy of the server software 130 and/or of all or at least a part of the software applications 165 residing on the server device 1 15 can be made on the remote computer 225, so that the remote computer 225 executes the functions of the server device 1 15 when the server device 1 15 is not connected to the local area network 1 10.

In other embodiments, the remove computer 225 can itself be the server device of the infotainment system 100, completely replacing the smartphones or the other mobile devices described so far, which would be altogether absent.

The latter embodiment solves all problems of obsolescence of the hardware of the vehicle 105 throughout the lifetime of the vehicle itself, and in addition it eliminates the need for a mobile device available on the vehicle. On the other hand, this embodiment needs the vehicle 105 to be always connected to a data network with sufficient bandwidth.

Considering the constant improvement of coverage, of the bandwidth of mobile data networks, and of the costs of said bandwidth, this mode could nonetheless become particularly advantageous in future, thanks also to the possibility of constructing a multitude of remote computers 225, for example in the form of virtual computers.

Each of these remote computers 225 could be associated with a user and hence execute a server software 130 configured according to the preferences of that user and with the related software applications 165.

Alternatively, each remote computer 225 could be associated with a vehicle 105, optimised to perform the same functionalities as the mobile device, but particularly adapted for the environment of the vehicle 105.

In both cases, the remote computer 225 can interact with the client devices 120 of the vehicle 105 as the mobile device previously described would interact therewith.

An architecture thus structure would therefore not only be an excellent backup system, because it would make available the entire ecosystem customised by the user even in the absence of a mobile device but, being able to be even completely independent of the mobile device itself, it would be particularly suitable for example for corporate vehicle pools, vehicle pools for services such as taxis or passenger transport services, vehicle rental services, carpooling or car sharing, etc.

Moreover, an architecture of this kind, not requiring a mobile device, would enable the user to always enjoy the best service, to customise his/her own interface and preferred application, in a totally transparent, simple and flexible manner.

Taking the concept to extremes, the vehicle 105, like other fixed and mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, computers, loT devices or other devices, can all become interfaces of the virtual remote computer 2"5, which adapts the contents and the graphics to each interface device.

The hardware resources of a remote computer 225, especially if it is realised as a virtual computer, can be reconfigured continually according to the user's needs and to technological progress.

The comprehensive hardware resources of the computing centre that houses the virtual computers, moreover, have infinitely lower cost than the cost of the sum of the similar equivalent mobile devices, both as a result of a scale effect, and of the absence of a great amount of hardware (a virtual computer does not need frame, battery, display, etcetera), and because the computing system is dimensioned for an average computing power, while individual virtual computers can be reconfigured according to the needed peak computing power.

Thanks to the infotainment system 100 described above, numerous advantages are obtained with respect to the prior art, especially in terms of software upgradability, hardware upgradability, portability of user contents and preferences and in terms of licence costs.

With regard to software upgradability, thanks to the proposed architecture, all software applications 165 residing on the server device 1 15 can be upgraded at any time.

Hence, the software applications 165 can follow the common, rapid and constant upgrading process that is typical of all the applications of the consumer world, which are also upgraded with daily periodicity by the respective developers. The supplier of the server software 130 only has to assure the interfacing with the software applications 165, in the ways described above, and that the server software 130 allows each software application 165 to interact with all or at least with a sub-set of the client devices 120 of the vehicle 105.

For example, if a software application 165 in its first release does not integrate a software plug-in 175, this software application 165 can be made available to the client devices 120 of the vehicle 105 integrating the API of the application 165 in the server software 130. However, if the same application, for example in a second release, is upgraded integrating the software plug-in 175, that application will be immediately available on the vehicle 105 with all its latest functionalities, simply by downloading it on the server device 135 from one of the normal official distribution channels of the applications. The upgrade of a software application 165 remains equally simple even if involves changes to graphics or functionalities or the possibility for the application to interact with a different subset of client devices 120. Similarly, the server software 130, which in turn can be present on the normal distribution channels of the applications, can also be upgraded in an extremely simple way.

Lastly, if the upgrade involves software or firmware present in the vehicle 105, for example but without limitation the software of the connection control unit 150, the management software 195 of the central processing unit 185, the client software 145 of each client device 120 or any other firmware residing in a hardware of the vehicle 105, this upgrade can be achieved simply by using the server device 1 15, for example the smartphone, as a connectivity system capable of allowing the upgrade of the firmware on the vehicle remotely, over-the-air, also for vehicles not provided with connectivity, and hence also for example for medium and low range motor cars, at any time in which the server device 1 15 is present in the vehicle, considerably simplifying any upgrade of the infotainment system 100.

An additional, particularly significant advantage is that the firmware and/or the software residing in the vehicle 105, performing primarily interconnection functions, are particular stable over time and, aside from a few possible marginal improvements and removals of any defects, which do not need substantially upgrades throughout the lifecycle of the vehicle 105, and hence do not cause the obsolescence of the hardware installed in the vehicle, eliminating one of the most sensitive drawbacks of know infotainment systems.

The same, if not even greater upgrading simplicity is observed if the architecture is the variant in which a mobile device is not necessary, but the vehicle 105 is connected to the remote computer 225, for example virtual, on which the server software 130 and the software applications 165 are executed. In this case all the software is constantly upgraded directly on cloud and hence are immediately usable in their latest version in the infotainment system 100.

With regard to the upgradability of the hardware, it is first of all stressed that the hardware of the server device 1 15, for example smartphone, can be upgraded many times during the life of the vehicle 105, so that these types of mobile devices have far faster life cycle than the life cycle of the vehicles and hence they are changed more often by their users.

This advantage is further enhanced if the server device 1 15 is realised by a remote computer 225, in particular by a virtual computer connected by means of cloud computing, which is kept constantly upgraded by the service provider.

With respect to currently known systems, the upgrading of the hardware positioned on the vehicle 105 is simplified as well. In the proposed modular architecture, each input and/or output apparatus 147 installed on the vehicle 105 as a client device 120, independent and connected to the local network 1 10, through one or more communication bus. Therefore, to upgrade each individual client device 120 it is sufficient to replace it with a new one compatible with the bus, according to a fully plug & play approach, which today is unknown in the world of traditional infotainments installed on vehicles.

By way of example, consider the replacement of a display, for example to upgrade a vehicle model. In current systems, infotainment displays are directly managed by the processor of the central processing unit, so replacing or adding a display normally means having to intervene on the hardware of the central processing unit itself. Vice versa, with the proposed architecture each display is already provided with a basic processor, necessary and sufficient to manage it and with an interconnection to at least one bus of the vehicle 105, forming a client device 120, so that the replacement of the client device 120 does not require any modification to the hardware of the central processing unit.

Similarly, it is possible to add or reconfigure the client devices 120 in an extremely simple manner, drastically facilitating the realisation of different vehicle models, fittings, or the adaptation to different markets and geographic areas of the vehicles, not only to make different displays available, but also different levers, pushbuttons, knobs, LEDs and in general any different type of output and/or input apparatuses.

For example, it is possible to install on the vehicle 105 one or more touchscreen displays and/or an e-ink display, useful to create interaction interfaces (knobs, sliders, screens, etcetera) that are easily reconfigurable via software and/or via hardware, because they are capable of exploiting a same communication bus and the same software architecture.

Every possibility of hardware reconfiguration of the infotainment system 100 is further facilitated by the fact that each client device 120 can be able to identify itself through the communication bus, making available the information about its own availability of output and/or input and other information useful to identify their own properties.

By way of example, a client device 120 provided with touchscreen display and with a physical pushbutton panel integrated in the frame, and possibly provided with multimedia pushbutton and volume adjustment dial, may identify itself to the local area network 1 10 communicating its own nature (display), its properties (resolution, DPI, etc.), its inputs (touch screen, play, pause, stop, forward, rewind pushbuttons and volume dial), its outputs (displays, speakers, audio jacks, LEDs), its own position in the passenger compartment (for example integrated in the headrest of the left rear seat) and any other information.

In particular, the position of a client device 120 in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 105 can be acquired by the client device 120 autonomously and then transmitted on the bus, or it can be detected directly by the connection control unit 150 associating the position in the passenger compartment to the wired or contactless connection points provided in the vehicle 105 for the connection of the client device 120.

These properties can be standardised by the protocol of the architecture, and this can apply for all client devices 120 provided at the time the architecture is implemented, or customised in the case of client devices 120 with functionalities that are not provided or do not yet exist. Standard functionalities may in any case be expanded over time, through the upgrades of the server software 130, to support any new market requirement very rapidly.

Knowledge of the functionalities offered by the client devices 120 also makes it possible to best customise the graphic interface according to the output and/or input apparatuses 147 available to the user or otherwise, in case of client devices 120 not provided with displays, to know the commands available to the users.

All inputs provided by the client devices 120 will be transmitted on the communication bus following a standard coding that is independent of the technology used. For example, an input can be the pressure of a key, and this input can be interpreted without having to know any additional detail of the device or of the technology used, which can be a physical key, a touch key, etcetera.

In this way, the client device 120 can be fully plug-and-play, enabling the automobile manufacturer to create different automobile configurations simply by selecting the client devices 120 during assembly, or to design a single client device 120 and to use it, without making any modifications, on multiple automobile models, or else to be able to propose to their customers new client devices 120, provided for example with a new touchscreen display that is larger or has better resolution, without having to make any other hardware or software modification to the vehicle 105, with the exception of the connection of the client device 120 to the communication bus.

The range of client devices 120 is thus particularly broad, and the intrinsic modularity makes it possible to add functionalities in a simple and quick way, thus facilitating the vehicle manufacturer, for example adding in an almost immediate way functionalities like health monitoring, able to detect the state of sleep or wakefulness, the sobriety and the psychological and physical conditions of the driver, safety sensors able to detect the presence of the passengers, of children or of pets to generate alarms if a danger condition is detected, and other systems, which can all be added also at a later phase with respect to the development of the vehicle 105, thus assuring its easy upgradability.

Each client device 120 could show information, such as the manufacturer, or its own unique identification code, useful for identifying the device and enable the operation of only some server devices 105 selected by the automobile manufacturer.

In practice, this system is useful for interfacing each client device 120 to the other client devices, to the server software 130 and consequently to the software applications 165. In this way, every time a new client device 120 is added to the infotainment system 100, or replaced to a previous device, the infotainment system 100 is reconfigured and it immediately allows the software applications 165 to obtain optimal access to the new resource.

With regard to the portability of user contents and preferences, it should be stressed that, with the proposed architecture, the server software 130 and the software applications 165 can be executed on the server device 1 15, for example on the smartphone or other mobile device, storing and reading the user's data on the mobile device itself. This operation implies that, net of any backup mechanisms, all the users' personal data and preferences reside in the user's server device 1 15 itself.

These data include for example recent/lost calls, contacts, multimedia contents such as music, videos, images, but also the data of the software applications 165 and other contents in general, as well as any preferences more closely tied to the automobile such as graphic themes, preferred air conditioning temperature, position of the seat, height of the steering wheel in the case of the driver, temperature of heated seat, as well as data about the passengers' health, etc.

This means that the entire portion of the infotainment system 100 tied to one individual is contained within the server device 1 15 and thus it is constantly available to the user. The user will thus be able to use his/her server device 1 15 to drive another person's automobile and find, on that automobile, all his/her own contents, applications and preferences, with the server device 130 that is able to adapt to the new car thanks to the system for identifying the client devices 120 described previously.

Assuming a widespread use of the infotainment system 100 in car sharing or car renting pools, the user will potentially be able to use all his/her software applications 165 on any car, with the server software 130 that is able to adapt itself dynamically in order always to best display the available hardware.

It is stressed that all these applications can also be obtained by cloud-based implementation, associated to a user identification system. In addition to the advantage tied to the ease and simplicity of use, it is stressed that this approach also makes it possible to improve the security of each individual's sensitive data, which are not transferred on the central processing unit 185 aboard the vehicle 105.

Lastly, with regard to the cost of the licences, an aspect to be stressed is that the proposed architecture maximises the number of software applications 165 usable in the vehicle 105 through the server device 105, for example the smartphone or another mobile device.

This feature allows the vehicle manufacturer not to have to install any proprietary software on the vehicle 105, and thus to avoid onerous licence costs. Most smartphone applications can be installed free of charge or in "freemium" mode by the end user, whereas they have a cost for commercial uses. Since the software applications 165 reside in the user's server device 1 15 it is evident that their use is private and has no commercial purposes, which results in a reduction of the licence costs to be paid by vehicle manufacturers.

According to one variant of the invention (not shown), the infotainment system 100 described above can comprise two or more server devices 1 15, for example two or more smartphones or other mobile devices, simultaneously connected with the local area network 1 10.

In this case, each server device 1 15 can be associated with the type of user to which it belongs, for example driver or passenger, and possibly to the location of the user in the passenger compartment.

Particularly useful in this regard can be the use of a pairing instrument that makes it possible to define a role for each server device 1 15 introduced in the vehicle 105.

Possible pairing methods can exploit the unique ID present in any Bluetooth, NFC or Wireless Charger Qi WPC chips present in the server device 1 15, and in particular exploit the nearness or the proximity, as well as the positioning of the server device 1 15 in an appropriate point, for example by positioning the server device 1 15 on a specific pad or slot present in the vehicle and in particular in the passenger compartment.

In this way, it is possible to define independent zones in which every user can employ the software applications 165 residing on his/her own server device 1 15. For example, the driver can use navigation contents, his/her own messaging in simplified mode on dashboard or by means of voice command, while passengers can for example watch films, work with productivity instruments such as word processing, spreadsheets, email, etcetera, independently of each other and each using the contents of his/her own server device interacting on the client devices 120 associated to each zone of the vehicle.

It should be stressed that with a similar approach it is also possible to manage independent audio zones, in which each passenger can listen to his/her own audio contents and to interact independently with his/her own vocal assistant.

Obviously, a person of ordinary skill in the art may make numerous technical and applicational modifications to the above description, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as claimed below.

Claims

1. An automotive infotainment system (100), comprising a local area network (1 10) installed aboard a vehicle (105) and able to connect at least one server device (1 15) with a plurality of client devices (120) mounted aboard the vehicle (105) and individually provided with at least one output and/or input apparatus (147).

2. An infotainment system (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the server device (1 15) is a mobile device that can be carried on the vehicle (105) and moved away from the vehicle (105).

3. An infotainment system according to claim 2, wherein the server device (1 15) is selected in the group consisting of: a smartphone, a portable personal computer and a tablet.

4. An infotainment system (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the server device (1 15) comprises a connectivity module (135) able to establish a data connection with at least one mobile telephony network.

5. An infotainment system (100) according to any of the claims from 2 to 4, wherein the server device (1 15) is connected to the local area network (1 10) through a wireless connection.

6. An infotainment system (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the server device (1 15) is mounted aboard the vehicle (105) in an irremovable way.

7. An infotainment system (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the server device (225) is located in a remote position outside the vehicle (105).

8. An infotainment system (100) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the client devices (120) are mounted aboard the vehicle (105) in an irremovable way.

9. An infotainment system (100) according to any of the previous claims, wherein each client device (120) comprises at least one of the following output and/or input apparatuses (147): a display apparatus, a sound emitting apparatus, a sound acquisition apparatus, a video acquisition apparatus, a manual command acquisition apparatus, a vehicle parameter acquisition apparatus, a biometric parameter acquisition apparatus, an apparatus for monitoring the state of health or the psychological and physical conditions of the driver or of the passengers, an apparatus for monitoring the presence of adults, children, animals inside the vehicle (105).

10. An infotainment system (100) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the local area network (1 10) comprises a plurality of communication channels able to connect each client device (120) to the server device through a connection control unit (150).

11. An infotainment system (100) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the server device (1 15) comprises an electronic processing unit (125) and a server software (130) which, when executed by the electronic processing unit (125) of the server device (130), makes said electronic processing unit (125) able to provide contents and/or services to the various client devices (120).

12. An infotainment system (100) according to claim 1 1 , wherein the server software (130) is interfaceable with one or more additional software applications (165) installed on the server device (1 15).

13. An infotainment system (100) according to claim 12, wherein the server software (130) comprises one or more interface software (170), each of which is able to interface the server software (130) with a respective software application (165).

14. An infotainment system (100) according to claim 12, wherein the server software (130) comprises an interfacing software able to allow each software application (165) to interface with the server software (130).

15. An infotainment system (100) according to claim 12, wherein the server software (130) comprises a software code that makes the electronic processing unit (125) of the server device (1 15) able to execute the mirroring of a display of a server device (1 15) on at least one display of a client device (120).

16. An infotainment system (100) according to claim 12, wherein the server software (130) comprises a software code that makes the electronic processing unit (125) of the server device (1 15) capable of generating at least one virtual screen (180), of carrying out on this virtual screen (180) the rendering of the graphic interface of at least one of the software applications (165) and of transmitting said rendering to a physical display of a client device (120).

17. An infotainment system (100) according to any of the previous claims, wherein each client device comprises an electronic processing unit (140) and a client software (145) which, when executed by the electronic processing unit (140) of the client device (120), makes said electronic processing unit (140) able to interface to the server device (1 15) through the local area network (1 10).

18. An infotainment system (100) according to claim 17, wherein the client software (145) makes the electronic processing unit (140) of the client device (120) able to communicate to the server device (1 15) identifying data and technical specifications of the client device (120) itself.

19. An infotainment system (100) according to any of the previous claims, comprising a central processing unit (185) mounted aboard the vehicle (105) and connected to the local area network (1 10), which can comprise an electronic processing unit (190) and a management software (195) that, when executed by the processing unit (190) of the central processing unit (185), makes said processing unit (190) able to provide contents and/or services to the various client devices (120).

20. An infotainment system (100) according to claim 19, wherein the central processing unit (185) comprises a backup software (210) which, when executed by the processing unit (190) of the central processing unit (185), makes said processing unit (190) able to store at least a part of the data and/or of the software applications (165) installed on the server device (1 15).

21. An infotainment system (100) according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the vehicle (105) comprises at least one connectivity module (215) able to establish a data connection between the central processing unit (185) and at least one mobile telephony network.

22. An infotainment system (100) according to any of the claims from 19 to 21 , wherein the vehicle (105) comprises a connectivity module (220) able to establish a wireless data connection to infrastructures and/or other vehicles.

23. An infotainment system (100) according to any of the previous claims, comprising a plurality of said server devices (1 15).

24. An infotainment system (100) according to any of the previous claims, comprising a first antenna (250) positioned outside the vehicle (105) to receive and transmit signals from/to a mobile telephony network, a second antenna (255) positioned inside the vehicle (1 15) and a signal repeater (260) able to transmit signals between the first antenna (250) and the second antenna (255).

25. A method for providing infotainment contents to the occupants of a vehicle (105), which comprises connecting at least one server device (1 15) with a plurality of client devices (120) mounted aboard the vehicle (105), through a local area network (1 10) mounted aboard the vehicle (105).