Patent Description:
Motor vehicles are typically provided with an entertainment system, e.g. for playback of sound or video. For example, <CIT> discloses a device for displaying visual information in a vehicle, which has an extendable display unit arranged on the inside of the vehicle roof, which is adjustable between a retracted rest position on the vehicle roof and an extended use position, in which it forms a rearward-facing display surface extending substantially vertically downwards from the vehicle roof. Projection units may be provided to project image information onto the display surface.

Such entertainment systems offer an ever-increasing number of features, e.g. high-quality video and audio playback, access to streaming services, etc. Furthermore, an entertainment system may offer the possibility to play video games or access internet services.

In addition to the increased capabilities of user entertainment, modern motor vehicles often offer the possibility to adapt the interior of the motor vehicle, in particular the ambient light, to the mood or preferences of the user. While these features aim at providing a pleasant user experience, the increasing number of configurable systems may at the same time require the user to adapt multiple systems using a built-in user interface of the motor vehicle. This may sometimes be cumbersome for the user.

<CIT> discloses a method for controlling a vehicle computer using a mobile telephone. The vehicle computer comprises a vehicle display and a vehicle input device. The mobile telephone comprises a mobile telephone display and a mobile telephone input device. An application is ran on the mobile telephone, into which a control command for the vehicle is entered by a user using the mobile telephone input device. A software library is operated by means of the application. The mobile telephone is connected to the vehicle computer via a local network connection using the software library. A software interface for the software library is implemented in the vehicle. The control command is transmitted to the software interface and the control command is carried out by the vehicle computer.

<CIT> discloses a method for remotely controlling features of a vehicle without an integrated touchscreen. Feature information identifying electronic features of the vehicle that are respectively controlled by electromechanical controls of the vehicle are acquired by an auxiliary device. A graphical user interface is rendered via a display of the auxiliary device.

The graphical user interface comprises graphical controls for remotely controlling the electronic features of the vehicle.

<CIT> discloses a system comprising a vehicle configured with an electronic interface and a portable computing device configured to be operatively integrated with the electronic interface. The portable computing device is integrated in such way as to act as an infotainment device for the vehicle and enable display of at least one vehicle parameter on the portable computing device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved solutions for controlling operation of two or more configurable systems of a motor vehicle.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim <NUM>, by a computer program according to claim <NUM>, which implements such a method, and by an apparatus according to claim <NUM>. This object is further achieved by a mobile user device according to claim <NUM> and a motor vehicle according to claim <NUM>. The dependent claims include advantageous further developments and improvements of the present principles as described below.

According to a first aspect, a method for controlling operation of two or more configurable systems of a motor vehicle with a single input by a user comprises:.

Accordingly, a computer program comprises instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the following steps for controlling operation of two or more configurable systems of a motor vehicle with a single input by a user:.

The term computer has to be understood broadly. In particular, it also includes mobile devices, electronic control units, and other processor-based data processing devices.

The computer program can, for example, be made available for electronic retrieval or stored on a computer-readable storage medium.

According to another aspect, an apparatus for controlling operation of two or more configurable systems of a motor vehicle with a single input by a user comprises:.

According to the invention, a user may control multiple configurable systems of a motor vehicle using a mobile user device, e.g. a smartphone, a tablet or a wearable, by simply specifying a desired operation scenario in a user interface of the mobile user device. Examples of operation scenarios include watching video, playing a video game, relaxing, video conferencing, working, etc. Upon receipt of the desired operation scenario, associated operation parameters for the various configurable systems are retrieved. The configurable systems are then operated in accordance with these operation parameters. In this way, the user has the possibility to control multiple configurable systems with a single input in the user interface of the mobile user device. The described solution thus provides a satisfying user experience. The operation scenarios may, for example, be specified by a manufacturer of the motor vehicle, by a service provider, or by the user. Advantageously, the operation scenarios or the associated operation parameters may be modified by the user. The operation parameters may be retrieved from a storage unit of the mobile user device. In this case, the retrieved operation parameters will be provided from the mobile user device directly to the configurable systems or to a control unit of the motor vehicle. Alternatively, the operation parameters may be retrieved from a storage unit of the motor vehicle. In this case, the mobile user device preferably just provides an identification of the operation scenario to a control unit of the motor vehicle.

In an advantageous embodiment, the two or more configurable systems are part of a presentation system of the motor vehicle. For example, the two or more configurable systems may include a display system, a sound system, or an ambient lighting system. While the invention is generally applicable to any configurable system of a motor vehicle, adaptation of these systems is rather likely to be desired by a user. As such, use of the invention is particularly useful for these configurable systems.

In an advantageous embodiment, operating the two or more configurable systems comprises bringing a display surface of the display system into a use position. For example, the display surface may be a display, a projection screen, or a roll-up display. In response to the selection of an operation scenario that requires video presentation, a display may be extended or a projection screen may come up. In addition, one or more projectors may be switched on. Alternatively, a roll-up display may be unrolled, e.g. an OLED-display (OLED: Organic Light Emitting Diode).

In an advantageous embodiment, operating the two or more configurable systems comprises adapting display parameters of the display system. For example, color settings or frame rates may be adapted to the content that will be displayed. In particular, different settings may be used for movie playback, video games, display of a desktop, or video conferences. In this way, depending on the specific application optimal settings can be used.

In an advantageous embodiment, operating the two or more configurable systems comprises adapting an arrangement of information displayed by the display system. For example, to reduce distraction, the user may wish to display less information on a head-up display. Some information may instead be displayed on an infotainment system of the motor vehicle or even on the mobile device. By selecting appropriate operation scenarios directed towards the amount and position of displayed information, the arrangement of the displayed information can easily be controlled by the user.

In an advantageous embodiment, operating the two or more configurable systems comprises adapting sound parameters of the sound system. For example, cinema sound may be preferable for video playback, whereas a deep, rich bass may be used for playing games. For video conferences, a balanced sound reproduction at all frequencies may be desirable.

In this way, the sound parameters of the sound system can easily be adapted to the specific application.

In an advantageous embodiment, operating the two or more configurable systems comprises changing a color or an intensity of ambient light generated by the ambient lighting system. For example, muted colors may be preferable during video playback, playing games, relaxing, or at nighttime, whereas brighter light may be preferable for working or at daytime. In this way, the ambient light can easily be adapted to the specific application.

In an advantageous embodiment, the two or more configurable systems are only operated in accordance with the operation parameters when the motor vehicle is not in a manual operating situation. In particular, operations scenarios that may cause a distraction of the user may only be activated when the motor vehicle is not in operation or is in autonomous operation. In this way, a safe operation of the motor vehicle is ensured. Operation scenarios that will not cause a distraction of the user, such as relaxing or a simple rearrangement of the displayed information, may also be activated in a manual operating situation.

Advantageously, a mobile user device comprises an apparatus according to the invention or is configured to perform a method according to the invention for controlling operation of two or more configurable systems of a motor vehicle with a single input by a user. For example, the mobile user device may be a smartphone, a tablet or a wearable. This has the advantage that users today are accustomed to operating all kinds of devices using applications running on their own mobile devices. Preferably, such an application may be used even if the user is outside of the motor vehicle.

Advantageously, a motor vehicle comprises an apparatus according to the invention or is configured to perform a method according to the invention for controlling operation of two or more configurable systems of the motor vehicle with a single input by a user based on information received from a mobile user device. For example, the motor vehicle may be a car, a bus, or a commercial vehicle, e.g. a truck. More generally, the invention can be used in land vehicles, rail vehicles, watercrafts, and aircrafts.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the figures.

The present description illustrates the principles of the present invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for educational purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions.

Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional embodiments thereof.

Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the diagrams presented herein represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry embodying the principles of the invention.

The functions of the various elements shown in the figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate software. Moreover, explicit use of the term "processor" or "controller" should not be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executing software, and may implicitly include, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, read only memory (ROM) for storing software, random access memory (RAM), and nonvolatile storage.

In the claims hereof, any element expressed as a means for performing a specified function is intended to encompass any way of performing that function including, for example, a combination of circuit elements that performs that function or software in any form, including, therefore, firmware, microcode or the like, combined with appropriate circuitry for executing that software to perform the function. The invention as defined by such claims resides in the fact that the functionalities provided by the various recited means are combined and brought together in the manner which the claims call for.

<FIG> schematically illustrates a method according to the invention for controlling operation of two or more configurable systems of a motor vehicle. For example, the two or more configurable systems may be part of a presentation system of the motor vehicle and may include a display system, a sound system, or an ambient lighting system. In a first step, a user input specifying an operation scenario is received <NUM> via a user interface of a mobile user device. Operation parameters associated with the specified operation scenario are then retrieved <NUM> for the two or more configurable systems and the two or more configurable systems are operated <NUM> in accordance with the operation parameters. For example, operating the two or more configurable systems may comprise bringing a display surface of a display system, such as a display, a projection screen, or a roll-up display, into a use position, adapting display parameters of the display system, or adapting an arrangement of information displayed by the display system. Likewise, operating the two or more configurable systems may comprise adapting sound parameters of a sound system or changing a color or an intensity of ambient light generated by an ambient lighting system. Advantageously, the two or more configurable systems are only operated in accordance with the operation parameters when the motor vehicle is not in a manual operating situation.

<FIG> schematically illustrates a block diagram of a first embodiment of an apparatus <NUM> according to the invention for controlling operation of two or more configurable systems <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of a motor vehicle. For example, the two or more configurable systems <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be part of a presentation system of the motor vehicle and may include a display system <NUM>, a sound system <NUM>, or an ambient lighting system <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> has an input <NUM>, via which an input unit <NUM> receives a user input via a user interface of a mobile user device <NUM>, the user input specifying an operation scenario OS. A parameter retrieving unit <NUM> is configured to retrieve operation parameters P associated with the specified operation scenario OS for the two or more configurable systems <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. An operating unit <NUM> is configured to operate the two or more configurable systems <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in accordance with the operation parameters P. For this purpose, the operating unit <NUM> may provide the operation parameters P directly to the configurable systems <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or to a control unit <NUM> of the motor vehicle via an output <NUM>. A local storage unit <NUM> is provided, e.g. for storing data during processing. The input <NUM> and the output <NUM> may likewise be combined into a single bidirectional interface. For example, operating the two or more configurable systems <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise bringing a display surface of a display system <NUM>, such as a display, a projection screen, or a roll-up display, into a use position, adapting display parameters of the display system <NUM>, or adapting an arrangement of information displayed by the display system <NUM>. Likewise, operating the two or more configurable systems <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise adapting sound parameters of a sound system <NUM> or changing a color or an intensity of ambient light generated by an ambient lighting system <NUM>. Advantageously, the two or more configurable systems <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are only operated in accordance with the operation parameters P when the motor vehicle is not in a manual operating situation.

The input unit <NUM>, the parameter retrieving unit <NUM>, and the operating unit <NUM> may be controlled by a control unit <NUM>. A user interface <NUM> may be provided for enabling a user to modify settings of the input unit <NUM>, the parameter retrieving unit <NUM>, the operating unit <NUM>, or the control unit <NUM>. The various units <NUM>-<NUM> can be embodied as dedicated hardware units. Of course, they may likewise be fully or partially combined into a single unit or implemented as software running on a processor, e.g. a CPU or a GPU.

A block diagram of a second embodiment of an apparatus <NUM> according to the invention for controlling operation of two or more configurable systems of a motor vehicle is illustrated in <FIG>. The apparatus <NUM> comprises a processing device <NUM> and a memory device <NUM>. For example, the apparatus <NUM> may be a computer, a mobile device, or an electronic control unit. The memory device <NUM> has stored instructions that, when executed by the processing device <NUM>, cause the apparatus <NUM> to perform steps according to one of the described methods. The instructions stored in the memory device <NUM> thus tangibly embody a program of instructions executable by the processing device <NUM> to perform program steps as described herein according to the present principles. The apparatus <NUM> has an input <NUM> for receiving data. Data generated by the processing device <NUM> are made available via an output <NUM>. In addition, such data may be stored in the memory device <NUM>. The input <NUM> and the output <NUM> may be combined into a single bidirectional interface.

The processing device <NUM> as used herein may include one or more processing units, such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, or a combination thereof.

The local storage unit <NUM> and the memory device <NUM> may include volatile and/or non-volatile memory regions and storage devices such as hard disk drives, optical drives, and/or solid-state memories.

<FIG> shows a motor vehicle <NUM> suitable for use with the described solution. In this example, the motor vehicle <NUM> is a car. The motor vehicle <NUM> comprises a display system <NUM>, a sound system <NUM>, and an ambient lighting system <NUM>. The motor vehicle <NUM> further comprises a plurality of sensor units <NUM>, e.g. a camera, a radar sensor, and an ultra-sound sensor. Of course, other types of sensor units may likewise be used, such as a laser scanner or a lidar sensor. A data transmission unit <NUM> is provided, e.g. for exchanging data with other motor vehicles or with a service provider. For this purpose, the data transmission unit <NUM> may make use of known communication technologies, such as IEEE802.11p or 3GPP C-V2X. For storing data, a local storage unit <NUM> is provided. The various components of the motor vehicle <NUM> may be controlled by a control unit <NUM>. Data exchange between the components of the motor vehicle <NUM> is performed via a network <NUM>. For controlling operation of the display system <NUM>, the sound system <NUM>, and the ambient lighting system <NUM>, an apparatus <NUM> according to the invention is provided. In this example, the apparatus <NUM> is included in the motor vehicle <NUM> and receives information from a mobile user device <NUM>. Alternatively, the apparatus may be included in the mobile user device <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an interior of the motor vehicle <NUM> of <FIG>. In this example, a user has, via a mobile user device, specified the operation scenario as "watching video". In response to this operation scenario, a display surface <NUM> of the display system <NUM> is brought into a use position. In this example, the display surface <NUM> is a projection screen, onto which one or more projectors <NUM> project the desired video information. The display system <NUM> may further include a head-up display or an infotainment system (not shown). In addition, sound parameters of the sound system <NUM> are adapted, e.g. switched to cinema sound. Finally, the color and intensity of ambient light generated by the ambient lighting system <NUM> are matched to the operation scenario. For example, the ambient light may be dimmed and shifted to a dark red. In other operation scenarios, such as playing a video game, relaxing, video conferencing, or working, other settings may be used, e.g. bright ambient light and a different sound equalization.

<FIG> shows a mobile user device <NUM> suitable for use with the described solution. In this example, the mobile user device <NUM> is a smartphone. The mobile user device <NUM> shows a user interface UI with a number of buttons <NUM> for various operation scenarios. The operation scenarios may, for example, be specified by a manufacturer of the motor vehicle, by a service provider, or by the user. As can be seen, buttons <NUM> for watching video, playing a video game, and relaxing can be activated. Further buttons <NUM> may be available by scrolling the buttons <NUM> to the left or to the right, as indicated by a scroll bar <NUM>. Upon activation of a specific button <NUM>, the corresponding operation scenario is selected and the operation parameters of two or more configurable systems of the motor vehicle are set accordingly. An information window <NUM> of the user interface UI may be used to inform the user about the progress of setting the operation parameters.

<FIG> schematically shows a block diagram of a board electronics system of a motor vehicle. Part of the board electronics system is an infotainment system, which comprises a touch-sensitive display unit <NUM>, a computing device <NUM>, an input unit <NUM>, and a memory device <NUM>. The display unit <NUM> is connected to the computing device <NUM> via a data line <NUM> and includes both a display area for displaying variable graphical information and an operator interface (touch-sensitive layer) arranged above the display area for inputting commands by a user. The input unit <NUM> is connected to the computing device <NUM> via a data line <NUM>.

The memory device <NUM> is connected to the computing device <NUM> via a data line <NUM>. In the memory device <NUM>, a pictogram directory and/or symbol directory is deposited with pictograms and/or symbols for possible overlays of additional information.

The other parts of the infotainment system, such as a camera <NUM>, radio <NUM>, navigation device <NUM>, telephone <NUM> and instrument cluster <NUM> are connected via a data bus <NUM> with the computing device <NUM>. As data bus <NUM>, the high-speed variant of the CAN (Controller Area Network) bus according to ISO standard <NUM>-<NUM> may be used. Alternatively, an Ethernet-based bus system such as IEEE <NUM>. 03cg can be used. Bus systems implementing the data transmission via optical fibers are also usable. Examples are the MOST Bus (Media Oriented System Transport) or the D2B Bus (Domestic Digital Bus). For inbound and outbound wireless communication, the vehicle is equipped with an on-board connectivity module <NUM>. It can be used for mobile communication, e.g. mobile communication according to the <NUM> standard.

Reference numeral <NUM> denotes an engine control unit. Reference numeral <NUM> denotes an ESC (electronic stability control) unit, whereas reference numeral <NUM> denotes a transmission control unit. The networking of such control units, all of which are allocated to the category of the drive train, typically occurs with a CAN bus <NUM>. Since various sensors are installed in the motor vehicle and these are no longer only connected to individual control units, such sensor data are also distributed via the bus system <NUM> to the individual control devices.

Modern vehicles may comprise additional components, such as further sensors for scanning the surroundings, like a LIDAR sensor <NUM> or a RADAR sensor <NUM> and additional video cameras <NUM>, e.g. a front camera, a rear camera or side cameras. Such sensors are increasingly used in vehicles for observation of the environment. Further control devices, such as an ADC (automatic driving control) unit <NUM>, etc., may be provided in the vehicle. The RADAR and LIDAR sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may have a scanning range of up to <NUM>, whereas the cameras <NUM>, <NUM> may cover a range from <NUM> to <NUM>. The components <NUM> to <NUM> are connected to another communication bus <NUM>, e.g. an Ethernet-Bus due to its higher bandwidth for data transport. One Ethernet-bus adapted to the special needs of car communication is standardized in the IEEE <NUM>. 1Q specification. Moreover, a lot of information about the environment may be received via V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) communication from other vehicles. Particularly for those vehicles that are not in line of sight to the observing vehicle, it is very advantageous to receive the information about their position and motion via V2V communication.

Reference numeral <NUM> denotes an on-board diagnosis interface, which is connected to another communication bus <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A method for controlling operation of two or more configurable systems (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of a motor vehicle (<NUM>) with a single input by a user, the method comprising:
- receiving (<NUM>), via a user interface (UI) of a mobile user device (<NUM>), the single user input specifying an operation scenario (OS);
- retrieving (<NUM>) operation parameters (P) associated with the specified operation scenario (OS) for the two or more configurable systems (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); and
- operating (<NUM>) the two or more configurable systems (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) in accordance with the operation parameters (P).