AU2021107514A4

AU2021107514A4 - Avn management system

Info

Publication number: AU2021107514A4
Application number: AU2021107514A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ashely Perry; Ashan Pieries; Stavros Siolis; Brent Stafford; Anthony Tselepis; Joseph Verduci; Mark Whitmore
Original assignee: Directed Electronics OE Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Directed Electronics OE Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-08-25
Filing date: 2021-08-25
Publication date: 2022-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-25

Abstract

An audio visual and navigation (AVN) management system, including: an AVN management component configured to remotely manage the installation and removal of applications of each of a plurality of AVNs of respective vehicles of one or more fleets of vehicles; a plurality of AVNs of respective vehicles of a fleet of vehicles, each of the AVNs including a server component configured to receive management commands from the AVN management component via a wireless communications network; and a web interface component to enable a fleet manager to control the operation of the AVN control component. 2. The management system of claim 1, wherein the AVN management component is further configured to remotely update applications of the AVNs. 1/1 Admin enrolls serials in server QR code is presented to the user for them to register the vin and rego of the vehicle. They have the option to skip this step and complete it at a later stage. Agent is embedded into OS and self-registers when the AVN is connected to the network Everyday Operation AVN store loads on boot in background Show apps available to the OEM brand Has the user No based on the serial n u mber e.g H N serials registered their will show all Hino apps. There will also be an vehicle? option for the driver to register the vehicle on a OR code with vin/rego as part of the app (this will be a one time register/sign in). Yes Show apps available for the VIN/serial Figure 1

Description

1/1

Admin enrolls serials in server

QR code is presented to the user for them to register the vin and rego of the vehicle. They have the option to skip this step and complete it at a later stage. Agent is embedded into OS and self-registers when the AVN is connected to the network

Everyday Operation

AVN store loads on boot in background

Show apps available to the OEM brand Has the user No based on the serial n u mber e.g H N serials registered their will show all Hino apps. There will also be an vehicle? option for the driver to register the vehicle on a OR code with vin/rego as part of the app (this will be a one time register/sign in).

Yes

Show apps available for the VIN/serial

Figure 1

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AVN MANAGEMENTSYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to in-vehicle audio, visual and navigation systems, and in particular to an AVN management system.

BACKGROUND Modern vehicles, including cars trucks and heavy machinery, include an Audio Visual Navigation ("AVN") display that acts as an interface between the driver and the vehicle systems. AVNs are also known as Infotainment systems, or Multi Media Units. AVNs can have features such as AM FM DAB radio, multimedia players, and can display vehicle information such as air conditioning status, or tyre pressure, and also include tools or features such as navigation. Some AVNs have internet connectivity, or use the connectivity of a driver's or passenger's mobile phone to connect the AVN to the internet. Select AVNs can also access connected media solutions such as Apple Car Play and Android Auto via a user's phone data connection. These have a limited range of car centric apps available and are designed to permit use of the app features on the AVN by the driver of the vehicle and the apps are exclusive to the connected phone.

It is desired to overcome or alleviate one or more difficulties of the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an audio visual and navigation (AVN) management system, including: an AVN management component configured to remotely manage the installation and removal of applications of each of a plurality of AVNs of respective vehicles of one or more fleets of vehicles; a plurality of AVNs of respective vehicles of a fleet of vehicles, each of the AVNs including a server component configured to receive management commands from the AVN management component via a wireless communications network; and a web interface component to enable a fleet manager to control the operation of the AVN control component.

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The AVN management component may be further configured to remotely update applications of the AVNs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Some embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 includes flow diagrams of a fleet management system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The inventors have identified that existing AVNs are designed for an individual's use, and are not designed for commercial vehicle use where the vehicle may be driven by one or many different drivers who may or may not connect their phone to the AVN. Apps designed to integrate with the AVN may be suitable for non commercial driver use but may not be suitable for commercial vehicle use where the vehicle is a workplace as any other and the driver is therefore subject to compliance with strict occupational health and safety legislation and therefore apps may not be appropriate to be displayed whilst driving or parked. Driver distraction of commercial vehicles must be tightly controlled due to the nature of the vehicle, its load, weight and risk. Further limitation may be required by different fleet managers or indifferent jurisdictions, However, fleet managers cannot presently control the content or apps on the AVN.

Currently available AVNs do not have the ability to be remotely managed by a fleet manager. Although MDMs (mobile device management) platforms are available, these are intended for use on mobile electronic devices such as tablets, phones and laptops and are not built for use in a vehicle infotainment system. The Android Auto and the Apple Car Play whilst designed for use in a vehicle infotainment system are controlled by a user's phone. Such phones may not be provided to drivers by fleet managers. Commercial vehicle drivers may not wish to use their 'auto app store' apps or may not be permitted to use their apps in the vehicle. Automotive companies or automotive dealers or Fleet manager operators of vehicles have a need to update or change the software over time to either make changes or add new features. The apps on traditional AVN devices are also controlled added or deleted by the user and cannot be remotely managed or configured, and they do not allow for bespoke enterprise applications to be loaded. In order to address these difficulties, embodiments of the present invention

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include an AVN management system and software running within the AVN and connected to the cloud via the AVN telecommunications connection or via a user's phone or in-vehicle modem. A web interface of the AVN management system allows users outside the vehicle to control the content and apps on the AVN in the vehicle or in classes of vehicles or based on the location of vehicles, or ownership of vehicles or driver classes and other user hierarchies.

As described herein, the AVN management system is a software platform that runs on the infotainment system and in the cloud, and is accessed via a web interface. It allows users to remotely add, remove or update software on the infotainment units of vehicles, either by individual vehicle or by group of vehicles or locations or other vehicle CAN parameter factors. In one aspect, the AVN management system can be considered to provide an app store marketplace for AVNs.

Updates can include, the control or configuration or management of AVN parameters and apps, including those features described below.

The branding on the AVN can be changed to suit the end user company branding. OH&S training guides or company OH&S training videos or manuals or webinars for the specific user company can be applied to the AVN remotely.

Road authority driving regulations for heavy vehicles, which may vary state by state, can be updated by the fleet manager or automotive manufacturer or dealer remotely from the AVN.

Applications to facilitate entry into port loading facilities which vary port to port based on location and the facilities rules.

Certain vehicle users may require OH&S apps for the company the vehicle is being used for a company; eg, certain food delivery vehicles working for the same or different supermarket chains have different OH&S apps or delivery apps.

Certain vehicle classes may have to have apps removed; for example, trucks which are modified to use for railway line maintenance cannot have multi-media playing on an

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AVN whilst operating in rail mode, so these apps and features are remotely disabled when being used in rail mode by the fleet manager.

Other fleet manager controlled features include when to update navigation maps and truck data in those maps.

User interfaces may require updates to suit varying driver distraction OH&S company rules; for example, to exclude the use of streaming music or videos.

New fleet manager or automotive company features can be added to the infotainment system, for example, job dispatch, electronic work diaries, electronic road user charging features or enterprise applications or driver identity logon.

The AVN apps can also have certain fuel company apps loaded or removed based on the fuel company cards in use by the fleet.

The AVN apps can also be changed to permit the payment of company specific features for example payment for fuel, payment for parking or payment for food or coffee on rest breaks.

The marketplace acts as both a MDM to remotely manage a vehicle or fleet of vehicles and as a commercial value add option by pushing updates over the air.

The system permits user hierarchy control of AVN apps and features for specific groups of vehicles or groups of drivers or locations.

Subject to privacy controls, the fleet manager can also view what is being viewed on the AVN after the driver permits viewing.

The system can also delete all user apps; for example, when the vehicle is being sold out of the fleet.

The system can also view the location, temperature, memory status and other AVN device parameters for remote diagnosis and system health checking.

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The system can also view accessories connected to the AVN and their status or information.

Consider the following example. An OEM supplies Android based vehicle radio (AVN) devices to vehicle manufacturers. Both the vehicle manufacturers and their customers (the vehicle owners or fleet managers) wish to be able to have 1st and 3rd party applications installed on these devices. If the devices are "internet connected", remote installation/uninstallation/upgrade of these applications is required. Depending on settings/configuration, a user of each vehicle can choose to install optional apps from a curated catalogue of available apps.

The AVN management system defines a hierarchy of different management roles responsible for AVN management. All levels of this hierarchy have the ability to add or subtract requirements.

An example of a hierarchy is: • OEM • Manufacturer • Dealer • Operator • Fleet • Driver/user.

An example of a simpler hierarchy is: • OEM • Operator • Fleet • Driver/user.

AVN devices are only visible to users in the right groups. For example, one manufacturer would not be able to do anything that would affect devices of another manufacturer. There will be cases when the driver is the vehicle owner, and consequently should have control.

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In other situations, the vehicle is owned/managed by the operator. In such cases, many drivers may use the vehicle, and therefore the driver may not have access to choose what is installed.

The manufacturer/dealer may want some apps to come bundled with the vehicle/device. The Dealer can also be responsible for creating Operator accounts.

The driver/user wouldn't have server/admin accounts, but is a more just an actor in the system.

Management Functionality

• Publish application • Make an app available for managers further down the hierarchy to install or add to catalogue • Also 3rd party publisher accounts that can only manage their own applications, but their apps will be available globally. • Approve application • Published applications and new versions need to go through an approval phase before being make available to all devices. • This can be a manufacturer or AVN supplier task and may be delegated • Install application • Enforce app installation & remove when unassigned • Report of violations • Disallow app while in motion • The ability to disable app usage while the vehicle is in motion (for safety reasons due to driver distraction); or • Conversely, whitelist apps that are allowed in motion, stop all others • Ban application • Uninstall application • Prevent future installations application • Report actions and violations • Assign available app catalogue • This will determine the optional apps that are available for the vehicle user to install • Available apps will be the union of a number of assigned catalogues (minus any banned applications)

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• Assign media • Make media available to the vehicle user (images/site maps, audio, video) • Media could be • Pre-downloaded • On-demand downloaded • Streamed • Initial device registration and assignment to groups can be availed by API access to do this assignment from other systems • Billing • Ability to report on app uptake/usage • Show device information • Single sign on / auth pass-through from Directed portal

In Vehicle • Updates • Updates can be automatically deployed (without driver intervention) • Updates to the current app can be avoided for example whilst the vehicle is in motion the remote operator should not be able to force an app update the server should acknowledge the vehicle state and delay the update until such time as the vehicle is parked with handbrake applied. • Android configuration • Ability to configure multiple WiFi access points which may be required to access company wifi or dealer wifi or public wifi • The software Agent is able to be embedded in OS firmware image and require no further configuration • "App store" application where drivers can select optional curated approved apps that are made available through catalogues. Such catalogues must be configurable option (by group) if this store is enabled. e.g. owner drivers would have it enabled, fleets where drivers have different trucks would not.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

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1. An audio visual and navigation (AVN) management system, including: an AVN management component configured to remotely manage the installation and removal of applications of each of a plurality of AVNs of respective vehicles of one or more fleets of vehicles; a plurality of AVNs of respective vehicles of a fleet of vehicles, each of the AVNs including a server component configured to receive management commands from the AVN management component via a wireless communications network; and a web interface component to enable a fleet manager to control the operation of the AVN control component.

2. The management system of claim 1, wherein the AVN management component is further configured to remotely update applications of the AVNs.