DE102009027466A1 - Method for receiving additional information in radio transmitter of vehicle, involves sending search request to radio transmitter by Internet interface of radio set - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves sending a search request (165) to a radio transmitter (110) by an Internetinterface of the radio set (120). The additional information (175) is received in the radio transmitter by the Internet interface in response to the search request. The actual receiving ability of the radio transmitter is tested. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a device for use in vehicle device for receiving additional information in a radio transmitter; and (2) a computer program product with a program code for executing the method.

Description

State of the art

The The present invention relates to a method according to claim 1, a device according to claim 13, a vehicle device according to claim 14, and a computer program product according to claim 14.

In Most vehicles today will still have the radio program receive analog via antenna. This has proven to be cost effective and established acceptable reception. With the radio program will be broadcast additional data, such as B. TMC messages (TMC = Traffic Message Channel), or TP (Traffic Program), TA (Traffic Announcement = traffic announcement), RT (radio text). All this data but refer to the exact current time, such as at RT, TA, TP or are often not available, such as PTY (Program Type).

Often in car stereos are already double and partially triple tuners installed so that these tuners in the background u. a. additional Collect data from other, not heard, stations.

DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) and its successor DAB + have become so far not significantly enforced in the market and are used by the Suppliers also supplied only slightly.

A in the home, using an Internet broadband connection, possible transmission of the radio program directly via The Internet is not yet available because of the so far in vehicles Download data rates may not be possible in the medium term, which is why there is no alternative.

So far Therefore, the vehicle occupants have only the opportunity to current program, often only the currently played Music title, via radio text displayed on the display too to get.

The KR 2006021511A discloses an apparatus for managing advertising programs of a digital broadcasting receiver. The apparatus is for displaying advertising programs corresponding to user selectable advertising information. The information is managed by an electronic program guide.

Disclosure of the invention

In front In this background, the present invention provides a method for receiving additional information to at least one radio station, Furthermore, a device that uses this method as well Finally, a vehicle device and a corresponding Computer program product according to independent Claims presented. Advantageous embodiments result from the respective subclaims and the following Description.

The Invention is based on the finding that additional information for running radio program automated over the Internet can be brought and presented. The additional information for Radio program can by means of an inventively in Vehicles available data connection to the Internet, for example, via a mobile network available be made.

According to the inventive approach can be an automatism describing a link of a sender identification to a website of a station can produce. The internet offer can therefore be added to the vehicle occupants as added value Will be provided.

Of the inventive approach has the advantage that Information about the type of program, such as: Pop, Classical, talk, etc., as well as an overview of the program of the next few hours for the or the occupants of a vehicle can be made available. Based on the information from the Internet, the Users additionally value-added information to the radio program Tobe offered. Furthermore, the additional information be used to make settings on the radio.

The The present invention provides a method for receiving a Additional information on at least one radio station, which is provided by a Radio unit of a vehicle can be received, the Procedure includes the following steps: sending at least one Query to the at least one radio station via an internet interface of the radio. At least receive additional information about the at least one radio station the internet interface, in response to the search request.

The radio may be a radio receiver that can be located and operated in a vehicle. Thus, the radio can only receive programs or information transmitted via an air interface to the vehicle. The radio can for this purpose have an antenna interface for receiving conventional analog or digital broadcast signals. Through the antenna interface, a plurality of radio stations can be received, which transmit at different frequencies. According to different embodiments may the radio stations are currently receivable or theoretically receivable radio stations. Furthermore, the radio device can have an Internet interface, by means of which information can be transmitted to the Internet or received from the Internet. The Internet interface can be provided for example by an integrated or coupled to the radio device mobile device. Accordingly, the Internet interface can be designed according to the Internet protocol or according to a coupled, Internet-capable data transmission device. For example, the search request can be made via the Internet interface and the additional information can be received via the Internet interface. The search request can be made to a central service provider, which may also have an Internet connection. The additional information may be provided in response to the search request from the service provider. The search request may be a request to provide current or future information about one or a plurality of radio stations or radio programs. In addition or as an alternative, data which have been deposited in advance by the user, for example the later vehicle occupant, on the Internet can also be queried via the search request. This may be, for example, a user identification or a specific specification regarding a selection of radio stations or radio programs. The additional information may be the name of the title or artist of a song being played on the radio. The additional information can also provide information about the type of a radio station, for example, whether the radio station in the field of classical or light music is to settle. Also, a topic, content or title of a particular program section of a radio station can be named by means of the additional information. The mentioned types of additional information may relate to a future date. Likewise, the language in which a radio station broadcasts its programs may be included in the additional information. But also traffic reports, such. B. Information on current traffic congestion can be transmitted via additional information to the driver of vehicles. Furthermore, user-defined and stored data can be provided as additional information to the radio device.

According to one Embodiment, the method may include a step of testing have a current reception of the at least one radio station. Accordingly, the sending of the at least one search request in response to the current reception of the at least one radio station respectively. The process of testing can be done by means of a known Station search done. This offers the advantage of being for a radio station operating in the area currently driving a vehicle, can not be received, also no search request becomes. Thus, research requests can only be related to such radio stations, currently for the Radio are receivable. This can be fruitless Search queries are avoided, resulting in a time streamlining of the entire search process has the result.

Also the at least one search request may be a search request concerning a program of at least one currently receivable Represent radio stations. Consequently, the at least an additional information additional information to the program of the represent at least one currently receivable radio station. Advantageously, such an overview of a program, such as the next few hours, various, currently receivable radio stations are given.

According to one Embodiment, the at least one additional information about an occupant interface are provided so that the at least additional information for an occupant of the vehicle is accessible. The occupant interface may be for example, a display or an audio output device act. Advantageously, the occupant of the vehicle is thus given the opportunity based on the additional information actively intervene in the system. For example, he may be due an overview of the additional information the future program of the currently receivable radio stations change the radio station immediately or later.

The method according to the invention can also have a step of receiving an occupant specification via an interface. Likewise, the inventive method may include a step of changing a radio station depending on the occupant specification and the at least one additional information. The occupant specification can be provided by the occupant, for example via an input device to the radio device. The advantage of occupant preference is another way of influencing the driver of the vehicle on the station selection. He can in this way make basic requirements, for example, that he wants to hear a particular radio station, as soon as his vehicle is in a region where it can be received. Due to a current reception of the particular radio station, via which the additional information gives information, and the occupant specification, the inventive method can therefore ent automatically carry out speaking station changes. The advantage of this additional step is that the driver of the vehicle can permanently validate fundamental preferences and does not need to reactivate a corresponding specification for each search result.

According to one embodiment, the at least one search request can be sent to a central service provider. Also, the at least one additional information can be provided by this central service provider. The central service provider can provide information and data bundled via the Internet to a large number of radio stations. For this purpose, the service provider may have stored the corresponding information retrievable. The at least one search request can thus be addressed to a single address, which saves time and effort. An example of information that can be provided by a service provider would be the Internet address www.radio.de in which information intended according to the invention is available to the streaming community.

Also The at least one search request may include an occupant identifier. The occupant identification may be a unique identifier act of the occupant. This allows a personified Use of the method according to the invention.

According to one Embodiment, the occupant identifier may be an occupant be associated identifier. This identifier assigned to the occupant can be provided to the radio. This embodiment offers the advantage that the occupant identification along with more Information can be deposited with the service provider and the service provider thus provide personalized additional information can.

Also For example, the method according to the invention may be one step depositing a list associated with the occupant identifier preferred radio station at the central service provider. The at least one additional information may contain information about the list of preferred radio stations. Such a list For example, it can be conveniently created by the user on a PC sent to and stored by the service provider. Using the occupant identifier assigned to the user, this can List then a car radio of a vehicle available in which the user uses his occupant identification has registered. The particular advantage here lies in the comfort that For example, the favorite stations of a driver and / or passengers of a vehicle according to popularity status and current reception automatically with a radio of any vehicle can be adjusted.

As well the method according to the invention can be a step storing a radio configuration associated with the occupant identifier at the service provider. The at least one Additional information Information about the radio configuration include. For example, the radio configuration may refer to a Assignment of the keys of a car radio with different radio stations or a certain volume. This step offers the advantage that, for example, different drivers of a vehicle with the help of their respective occupant recognition so opposite the service provider can identify that the service provider the given by the respective driver radio configuration can transmit the radio of the vehicle.

at The method according to the invention, the at least a radio station via an interface of the radio be received. Here, the interface for a be designed analog or digital radio reception. Thus, can the inventive method a meaningful Complement for conventional radios be.

The The inventive method can by a device be executed, the appropriate means to implement can have individual process steps. The device can as separate electrical component with appropriate interfaces be executed. The interfaces can be hard- and / or be formed by software. At a hardware training can be the Interfaces, for example, part of a so-called system ASICs be, which includes a variety of functions of the device. However, it is also possible that the interfaces have their own, Integrated circuits are or at least partially discrete Consist of components. In a software-based Training, the interfaces may be software modules, for example, on a microcontroller in addition to other software modules available. The device can also be part of an electrical Device that include a radio module or radio module can. In such an electrical device may be generally to a vehicle device and in particular to a Radio, radio, navigation device Multifunction device or driver assistance system act. Further, the device may be from a radio module or broadcast module a vehicle includes.

Accordingly, the present invention further provides an apparatus for receiving additional information to at least one radio station that may be received by a radio or broadcast module of a vehicle device. The pros A device for sending at least one search request to the at least one radio station via an Internet interface of the vehicle device and a device for receiving at least one additional information to the at least one radio station via the Internet interface, in response to the search request include.

Further The present invention provides a vehicle device that may comprise a radio or radio module and an inventive Device for receiving additional information. advantageously, can the device according to the invention also in existing vehicle equipment, such as a radio, to get integrated.

From Advantage is also a computer program product with program code, the on a machine-readable medium such as a semiconductor memory, stored in a hard disk memory or an optical memory is and to carry out the method according to one of used in the above-described embodiments, if the program is running on a controller becomes.

The Invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings exemplified in more detail. Show it:

1 a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention;

2 a flowchart of a method according to the invention for receiving additional information to at least one currently receivable radio station; and

3 a flowchart of a method according to the invention for receiving personal additional information.

In the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention are for those in the various Figures represented and similar acting elements same or similar reference numerals, wherein a repeated Description of these elements is omitted.

1 shows a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. Shown are a plurality of radio stations 110 , a radio 120 a vehicle, a service provider 130 , an inmate 140 of the vehicle as well as a computer 150 for example a PC.

The majority of radio stations 110 is adapted to a plurality of radio programs 160 send out. The radio 120 has a plurality of interfaces. That's the radio 120 trained to the radio programs 160 to recieve. The radio 120 can be trained to submit a search request 165 via an internet interface to the service provider 130 provide. At the service provider 130 It may be an application service provider that can be contacted over the Internet and has stored information associated with the plurality of radio stations. The service provider 130 can be trained to complete the research request 165 to receive and, in response to the search request 165 , at least one additional information 175 via the Internet interface to the radio 120 provide. The computer 150 can be through an internet interface with the service provider 130 be coupled. About the PC 150 For example, a user may request a list of preferred radio stations and / or a radio configuration to the service provider 130 send. The occupant can use an occupant interface 140 an occupant requirement 180 to the radio 120 provide. The radio 120 may be configured based on occupant preference 180 the additional information 175 to the inmates 140 provide. The intervention options via the PC 150 or by the occupant 140 can be optionally formed.

In general, the majority of radio stations 110 trained to the different radio programs 160 Continuously broadcast via an air interface on their respective assigned frequency. Is the radio device located 120 in the transmission range of a certain radio station 110 so can the radio program 160 this particular radio station 110 be received by the radio.

According to the in 1 embodiment shown is the radio 120 trained to query the search query via the Internet interface 165 to the service provider 130 to send. The search request 165 can, for example, be a future program 160 one of the majority of radio stations 110 affect. Based on the research request 165 can the service provider 130 an additional information 175 to the radio 120 submit information about the future radio program 160 may include. The search request 165 may additionally or alternatively include an occupant identifier. The occupant identifier may be associated with the occupant of the vehicle and the occupant's identification with the service provider 130 serve. The occupant identification may be independent of the radio device.

The occupant specification 180 may have a desire of the occupant 140 for example, the type or language of a radio program 160 , represent. So can the radio 120 be formed based on the occupant's preference 180 and additional information 175 to perform a station change, z. B., when the vehicle enters a transmission range of a radio station, according to the occupant default 180 the listening request of the occupant 140 equivalent.

On the PC 150 For example, a list of preferred radio stations or a preferred radio configuration can be created independently of time and location. The list and / or radio configuration may be via an Internet interface or via another transmission path at the service provider 130 be deposited. In response to a transmission of the occupant identifier by the radio 120 can the service provider 130 the list or radio configuration in the form of additional information 175 to the radio 120 provide. The settings in the radio 120 can then be done depending on the corresponding occupant identifier. For example, one of the particular occupants 140 desired key assignment or volume can be set automatically. Likewise, the radio can 120 be formed to automatically output the listed in the list of preferred radio stations radio station, for example, in a priority according to their position in the list.

2 shows a flowchart of a method, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method can be used, for example, by a control unit of the in 1 shown radio 120 be executed.

According to the Invention be in the vehicle radio equipment detected the currently receivable stations, and with this information, which can also be referred to as sender identification, can be found on the Internet be researched. The following is from a central service provider on the Internet, which determines the information structured and prepared and available for this service power. The radio in the vehicle gets from this service provider for the receivable transmitter transmits the additional information and represents this to the vehicle occupants in a suitable form can z. For example, the future program for the channels belong to the receivable list of stations.

In a step of testing 210 a receivability of a radio station can be checked. In a step of sending 220 a search request is sent. In a step of receiving 230 Additional information can be received. An occupant specification can be done in one step 240 be received. A step 250 includes displaying the additional information and a step 260 includes a change of a radio station.

According to the in 2 In the embodiment shown, the checking of a current reception of one or more radio stations can be carried out by recognizing transmitter identifications of the radio stations via the radio device of a vehicle. The step of sending the search request 220 can be used for the radio station (s) whose sender IDs have been recognized by the radio. The search request may be transmitted from the radio to the service provider and include a request for a program of a corresponding radio station or a request for information specific to the seat. In the latter case, the search request may include an occupant identifier. In the step 230 the radio may receive the additional information from the service provider. The additional information may be based on the search request and include, for example, information about a future program of the radio station or information associated with the occupant identification.

If the additional information relates to a future radio program, then in the step 250 an additional information is displayed. This can be realized for example via a display on the radio. Also a video output or a voice output via loudspeaker is possible.

In the step 260 An automatic change of the radio station can take place. This may be in addition to or as an alternative to the step 250 respectively. In this case, the station change 260 on the step 230 received additional information and in step 240 based occupant default. For example, an automatic station change may take place if the additional information about the radio program corresponds to the listening request of the occupant. The receiving 240 an occupant can at any time, for example, in parallel to the steps 210 to 230 respectively. The occupant specification can be input by an occupant of the vehicle via an occupant interface and represent a specific listening request of the occupant, for example, according to a particular music genre.

It So there is the possibility based on user requests and the additional internet data an automatic Change channel. Would the user z. B. radio plays hear a station change can take place when the Vehicle is located in a transmission range of a transmitter, the current plays a radio play. Accordingly, it is possible z. Abroad, to identify broadcasts or broadcasters operating in the desired language.

3 shows a flowchart of a method according to the invention, according to another Embodiment of the present invention.

According to this Embodiment, there is the possibility that the user edited a preferred station list at home on the PC and deposited with the service provider. The list can be z. B. after the popularity of each radio station be sorted, so that the most popular radio station is at position 1. On this list can then be accessed by any radio device which offers this possibility. In this case it is necessary that the user, for. B. on his used mobile phone, clearly identified to the service provider. In this context, there is the possibility of getting more configurations such as For example, you can define presets online, conveniently on the PC, and in advance later in any vehicle or radio temporarily load, which supports these possibilities. For example, presets can be assigned to buttons of a Include car radios with certain radio stations.

Consequently, in a step of creating and transmitting 310 a list of preferred radio stations and / or a radio configuration is created and transmitted to the service provider. In one step 320 a passenger ID is sent to the service provider, wherein the occupant identifier may have the purpose of uniquely identifying the occupant to the service provider. A step 330 checking includes checking by the service provider the presence of a list of preferred transmitters associated with the occupant identifier and / or a radio configuration associated with the occupant identifier. If a corresponding list or radio configuration is deposited with the service provider, the service provider can in a final step 340 Send the list and / or the radio configuration to the radio that transmitted the occupant code.

According to one another embodiment, it is possible To convey advertising in a context to date belonged program stands, z. For example, an offer about Concert tickets.

The described and shown in the figures embodiments are chosen only as an example. Different embodiments can be complete or in relation to individual Features are combined with each other. Also, an embodiment supplemented by features of another embodiment become. Furthermore, inventive Procedural steps repeated as well as in another than in the described sequence. Includes one Embodiment, a "and / or" link between a first feature and a second feature, so may be read so that the embodiment according to a Embodiment both the first feature and the second Feature and according to another embodiment either only the first feature or only the second feature.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - KR 2006021511 A [0007]

Cited non-patent literature

• - www.radio.de [0018]

Claims (15)

Method of receiving ( 230 ) additional information ( 175 ) to at least one radio station ( 110 ) from a radio ( 120 ) of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: sending ( 220 ) at least one search request ( 165 ) to the at least one radio station via an Internet interface of the radio; and receiving ( 230 ) at least one additional information to the at least one radio station via the Internet interface, in response to the search request. Method according to claim 1, comprising a step of checking ( 210 ) a current reception of the at least one radio station ( 110 ), and where sending ( 220 ) of the at least one search request ( 165 ) in response to the current reception of the at least one radio station. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the at least one search request ( 165 ) a search request concerning a program ( 160 ) at least one currently receivable radio station ( 110 ) and the at least one additional information ( 175 ) represents additional information to the program of the at least one currently receivable radio station. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the at least one additional information ( 175 ) is provided via an occupant interface, so that the at least one additional information for an occupant ( 140 ) of the vehicle is accessible. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of receiving an occupant specification ( 180 ) via an interface and a step of switching ( 260 ) of a radio station ( 110 ) depending on the occupant specification and the at least one additional information ( 175 ). Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the at least one search request ( 165 ) to a central service provider ( 130 ) and the at least one additional information ( 175 ) is provided by the central service provider. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the at least one search request ( 165 ) comprises an occupant identifier. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the occupant identifier identifies an occupant ( 140 ) is assigned to the radio ( 120 ) can be provided. Method according to one of claims 7 or 8, comprising a step of depositing a list of preferred radio stations assigned to the occupant identification ( 110 ) at the central service provider ( 130 ), and wherein the at least one additional information ( 175 ) comprises information about the list of preferred radio stations. Method according to one of claims 7 to 9, with a step of depositing ( 310 ) of a radio configuration associated with the occupant identifier at the service provider ( 130 ), and wherein the at least one additional information ( 175 ) includes information about the radio configuration. Method according to one of the preceding Claims in which the Internet interface via a Mobile interface is provided. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the at least one radio transmitter ( 110 ) via an interface of the radio device designed for analogue or digital radio reception ( 120 ) Will be received. Device for receiving ( 230 ) additional information ( 175 ) to at least one radio station ( 110 ) transmitted by a radio or radio module of a vehicle 120 ), having the following features: a device ( 220 ) for sending at least one search request ( 165 ) to the at least one radio station via an Internet interface of the vehicle device; and means for receiving ( 230 ) at least one additional information to the at least one radio station via the Internet interface, in response to the search request. Vehicle device that is a radio or radio module comprises and an apparatus according to claim 13 having. Computer program product with program code based on a machine-readable carrier is stored for execution The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, when the program is executed on a control unit becomes.

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