Method for a user-defined setting of a driver information system

The method is used for the user-defined setting of a driver information system (10), in which data are stored and are retrievable for making a decision. In this context, it is provided that a user-defined decision matrix (26) is set up which is adjustable as a function of operating data and is retrievable for making a preliminary decision with the aid of the information system (10).

The present invention relates to a method for the user-defined setting of a driver information system, in which data are stored and are retrievable for making a decision, according to the definition of the species in claim1.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Methods of the kind named at the beginning are known. They are drawn upon especially for setting navigational and telematic systems. In this context, the setting of such systems is done by the vehicle user himself by manual input into an appropriate device or by parametrization of generally valid experiential values. As a matter of disadvantage, in various operating situation, using such information systems, appropriate decisions are repeatedly interrogated by the vehicle user or not correctly arrived at by the information system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The method according to the present invention is characterized by setting up a user-defined decision matrix which is adjustable as a function of operating data and retrievable for the purpose of making a preliminary decision with the aid of the information system. In this connection, operating data are understood to mean all vehicle data, operating and/or user-relevant data which are able to be meaningful for making a preliminary decision with the aid of the information system. Since the decision matrix includes user-defined information or data, it may be used for making a user-defined preliminary decision. In this context, in the case of a preliminary decision, a prediction by the information system is involved, with respect to the individual behavior of a vehicle user that will occur with great probability in each respective operating or traffic situation. Because of the constant adjustment of the user-defined decision matrix, the probability that a preliminary decision or prediction made will actually be correct is relatively high.

Advantageously, the driver information system works as a navigation system. Since a navigation system frequently requests preliminary decisions of a vehicle user or must make preliminary decisions itself, a user-specific, adjusted decision matrix is particularly suitable for being integrated into a navigation system, since the latter can, in this way, make preliminary decisions without the user of the vehicle having to do anything with respect to these preliminary decisions. Thus, the user of the vehicle is less distracted from his surroundings, particularly while driving.

The setting of the driver information system is advantageously carried out in the form of a presetting. In order to get a user-defined presetting of a driver information system, preliminary decisions based on operating data are “learned”. For the purpose of making preliminary decisions with the aid of the information system, we refer to the constantly adjusted, user-defined decision matrix. Thus, operating data on the past driving behavior of the vehicle user are used for presetting the driver information system, so as to be able to make preliminary decisions which, with high probability, will arise in the future in the case of the same vehicle user, in a corresponding operating situation.

According to one preferred variant of an embodiment, the decision matrix is adjusted using ascertained, situation-dependent and decision-relevant operating data. In this manner, there is constantly a comparison between the data already stored in the decision matrix, which relate to past operating data, and current operating data of the vehicle which were ascertained later. Thereby the decision matrix can be adjusted currently in a controlled manner.

It is of advantage, when setting up the decision matrix, to differentiate between operating data which are stable with respect to the respective user behavior and random operating data. In this context, stable operating data are understood to be data which, because of their repetitive appearance, may be drawn upon as the basis for reliably reaching a user-defined preliminary decision. In this connection, when differentiating between stable and random operating data, one may also refer to data that are already stored in the decision matrix. Furthermore, by random operating data are understood such data as are only unique or at least appear rarely, and thus are not able to be drawn upon as a basis for making preliminary decisions with the aid of which corresponding future operating situations can be predicted with a relatively high probability. Thus, differentiating between stable and random operating data makes possible updating the decision matrix for each vehicle user in a manner that is controlled and has data that are cleared up.

Advantageously, the decision matrix cooperates with a user-specific, permanent memory which is protected from external access by others. In the permanent memory, stable data or operating data which are needed for setting up the decision matrix, as well as random operating data are stored. Thus, a subdivision of the operating data into stable and random data can be carried out by comparison with data stored in the permanent memory. On the other hand, decisions based on stable operating data are stored in the decision matrix, whereby one can even differentiate between the respective vehicle users. The permanent memory is protected from other, external access—for example, by the vehicle user—so as not to allow undesired manual changes or corruption of the stored data by a person. Furthermore, the user-defined data in the permanent memory should be secured with respect to an ensured “privacy” (data protection).

Advantageously, if a preliminary decision cannot be made using the driver information system, a suggestion is proposed to the user of the vehicle. In case no preliminary decision can be made by the driver information system because of a lack of data in the decision matrix, preferably a suggestion is proposed to the user of the vehicle which can confirm or refuse. The driver information system can refer back to stored data for proposing a suggestion, these data not necessarily having to be user-defined, since there possibly are not yet any corresponding data present. In this context, it is even possible to draw upon the corresponding data of a suggestion for the purpose of setting up or updating the decision matrix.

According to one preferred variant of an embodiment, the comparison of the preliminary decision or the suggestion and a later, actually occurring user behavior is carried out, and is drawn upon for setting up or adjusting the user-defined decision matrix. With the use of such a comparison, it is possible, in a reliable and effective manner, to carry out a feedback, by which an adaptive updating of an existing, personal decision matrix or the setting up of a new decision matrix can be carried out, while taking into consideration the later behavior of the user (driving behavior, confirmation or refusal of the suggestion), occurring with reference to the preliminary decision or the suggestion.

Preferably, the preliminary decision or the suggestion are displayed by a display unit, and, if necessary, are confirmed, changed or refused. Because of the possibility for the vehicle user actively to confirm, change or refuse a preliminary decision or a suggestion, a user behavior not yet learned by the driver information system or a new user behavior may be supplemented in an effective and rapid manner in the driver information system. An adjustment of the decision matrix can, however, only take place if the actual behavior of the vehicle user, occurring later, confirms the corresponding prediction or the change.

Advantageously, user-specific data and/or operating data are input into an adaptive unit of the driver information system with the aid of a portable and preferably programmable memory unit. Such a memory unit may, for example, be a so-called “smart card” or a hand-held computer, which contains stored, user-specific data or operating data, which can be meaningful to the vehicle user for making a preliminary decision or for proposing a suggestion.

Preferably, a data exchange takes place between the memory unit and the permanent memory. In this way, user-specific data or operating data may be transmitted both from the memory unit to the permanent memory and from the latter to the memory unit. Furthermore, if necessary, data may be entered manually by the vehicle user into the memory unit, possibly before starting the trip, such as in the form of a destination determination, which then, after producing an operative connection between memory unit and adaptive unit is transmitted to the permanent memory at the start of the trip.

It is of advantage if, before a data exchange between the memory unit and the permanent memory, a user-defined confirmation inquiry with the aid of the driver information system takes place. It is ensured by such a confirmation inquiry that user-defined data are not accessible to third parties. Such a confirmation inquiry can, for example, be made in the form of a secret code.

The present invention also relates to an information device which is operated by a method having one of the above features.

Additional advantageous embodiments of the present invention are derived from the description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The block diagram shown in the FIGURE shows a driver information system generally denoted by10, such as a navigation system of a vehicle. Driver information system10has an information unit11, with the aid of which input data, preferably in the form of extracted, user-defined operating data are made available for further processing in driver information system10. Information unit11is operatively connected to a processing unit13with the aid of a data transmission line shown as arrow12. Processing unit13is used for situation registration and decision-making, taking into account the input data transmitted by information unit11. Processing unit13is operatively connected, on its output side by way of a data transmission line shown as arrow14, to a preliminary decision unit15, and on its input side by way of a further data transmission line shown as arrow29to a decision matrix26of an adaptive unit28. The user-defined decisions are stored in decision matrix26, and they are drawn upon for decision-making in processing unit13. Preliminary decision unit15is operatively connected to a reconstruction unit17with the aid of a data transmission line shown as arrow16. Reconstruction unit17is used for comparing preliminary decisions taken with later occurring, actual user behavior, and to make available information or data resulting from this comparison for further processing. Thus, with the aid of reconstruction unit17, a linkage takes place of a situation-defined behavior of the vehicle user with a corresponding preliminary decision. Reconstruction unit17is operatively connected to a display unit19with the aid of a data transmission line shown as double arrow18. Display unit19is used for displaying a preliminary decision taken, and may possibly have an active functional unit (not shown) whereby the vehicle user is able to confirm and/or change the preliminary decision.

If, in view of missing data of decision matrix26, preliminary decision unit15is not able to make a preliminary decision, a suggestion is proposed to the vehicle user with the aid of driver information system10. For this purpose, preliminary decision unit15is operatively connected to a suggestion unit21, via a data transmission line shown as arrow20, which, under consideration of user-specific, and possibly also generally valid data, develops a suitable suggestion. Suggestion unit21is connected to reconstruction unit17, via a data transmission line shown as arrow22, which compares the data of the respective suggestion to the later, actual user behavior, and makes available corresponding data for further processing in driver information system10. Each suggestion is first displayed in display unit19, so that the vehicle user is able to confirm, change and/or refuse the suggestion, using the functional unit.

Reconstruction unit17is operatively connected to a feedback unit24with the aid of a data transmission line shown as double arrow23. Feedback unit24is used for the adaptive updating, and thus for supplementing or adapting decision matrix26of adaptive unit28. For this purpose, feedback unit24is operatively connected to decision matrix26via a data transmission line shown as arrow25. In addition to decision matrix26, adaptive unit28has a permanent memory27, which cannot be accessed from the outside, for example, by the vehicle user. Permanent memory27contains decision-relevant and particularly ascertained, situation-dependent operating data, and is in operative contact with decision matrix26for setting up or adapting user-defined decision matrix26.

The data transmission lines according to arrows12,14,16,18,20,22,23,25and29are also able to be data transmission functions in the form of software.

In the case of the adaptive updating of decision matrix26by feedback unit24, a differentiation is made between operating data that are stable with reference to the respective user behavior and random operating data. Both the stable and the random operating data are stored in permanent memory27, so that, using a constant comparison of new operating data with the stored data in permanent memory27, a differentiation is possible between stable and random operating data. The stable operating data are drawn upon for setting up or supplementing decision matrix26, whereas the random operating data may possibly be used for working up a suggestion with the aid of suggestion unit21.

A portable and preferably programmable memory unit30can be operatively connected to adaptive unit28, for inputting user-specific data and/or operating data into it. Memory unit30is preferably designed as a so-called “smart card” or as a hand-held computer. In this context, a data exchange can take place between memory unit30and permanent memory27. Thus, data are transmitted from memory unit30into permanent memory27and/or from the latter into memory unit30. Before the data exchange between memory unit30and permanent memory27, a user-defined confirmation inquiry takes place, using driver information system10. But it is also possible to use permanent memory27for the user-defined setting of driver information system10, without necessarily having to refer to data of memory unit30.

The vehicle user is able, for example to input user-specific data into adaptive unit28, using a smart card (portable memory unit30), and subsequently, to input his particular intended travel destination, for instance, for calculating travel time. By using user-defined decision matrix26, processing unit13sets up a speed profile, in order to calculate as accurately as possible a forecast with respect to the travel time asked for. Preliminary decision unit15makes a corresponding preliminary decision with respect to travel time and passes it on to reconstruction unit17, which transmits a corresponding information to display unit19. The vehicle user thus infers from display unit19how much time he most probably will need to reach his travel destination, in consideration of his retrieved speed profile. At the end of the trip, a comparison is made in reconstruction unit17between the preliminary decision and the actual travel time (actual speed profile), and corresponding data are passed on to feedback unit24. Feedback unit24transmits corresponding data to decision matrix26, which, under consideration of data or information (stable or random) stored in the permanent memory, is adjusted in such a way that, if necessary, a new, updated and user-defined speed profile will be stored. Because of the differentiation between stable and random data, it is avoided that a random, rare speed profile is stored in decision matrix26, since the latter, according to its function, is supposed to include only stable data. In a corresponding manner, however not by the use of decision matrix26, a suggestion is developed by driver information system10, and is processed further, if necessary, for the supplementation of decision matrix26.

Besides the user-specific speed profile, for example, the following decision criteria may be drawn upon for the adjustment with the aid of driver information system10:

preferred road type (e.g. expressway or country road), preferred sequence of certain menu options,

preferred “web links” (homepage) in the style of disposable internet services or other decision criteria in which prediction of user behavior represents a simplification in the operation of the vehicle for the user.

Advantageously, by using driver information system10, vehicle user-defined decisions become predictable without thereby making private knowledge about each vehicle user accessible to third parties. A markedly simplified user prompting is made possible, for example with the aid of a so-called “human-machine interface” (HMI). Decisions are taken away from the vehicle user, so that he can concentrate better on his surroundings, thereby increasing driving safety.