DE102011112537A1 - Method for configuration of system settings of computing unit e.g. central processing unit of vehicle, involves accessing database stored in server and comprising several communication partner groups to which user belong by computing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The computer unit and the server are connected. A database stored in server and comprising several communication partner groups to which user belong is accessed by the computing unit. The specific system setting is assigned to each potential communication partner group based on characteristics of the communication partner groups, as set by the user using the interface between the users and computing unit. The information is transferred between the user and communication partner group. An independent claim is included for software program product for configuration of system settings of computing unit.

Description

The invention relates to a method for configuring system settings of a computing unit, in particular a central processing unit of a vehicle, which communicatively communicates with at least one Internet server.

The central processing unit with communication devices and interfaces in the vehicle is referred to as a "head unit". "Head Unit" vehicle applications include, for example, navigation, telephone, audio and video sources, their communication connectivity, and their use for other vehicle applications. These communication devices may be communicated via communication channels such as social networks and communities ("communities"), with the corresponding system settings for such communication devices of a vehicle being usually manually configured by the respective user.

Such communication channels or social networks usually offer their users functions such as a personal profile with various visibility settings for members of the community or even generally for the public of the network; they provide contact lists or address books, including functions that can be used to manage the references to these other members of the community, such as friends, acquaintances, colleagues, etc .; It is also possible to import data from e-mail accounts or other portals, to receive and send messages to other members, individually, to groups, to all, etc. Furthermore, the reception and sending of notifications about various events such as profile changes, set images, videos, reviews, call waiting, etc. are possible and there are also blogs or microblogging functions or publishing individual status updates and a detailed search.

Typical examples of social networks are "Xing" or "Facebook". Characteristic of some younger internet communities is that all contacts, friends, etc. are not unstructured members of the same group, but that a subdivision, for example, in business colleagues, friends, club members, family, etc., is possible.

In this case, can be due to the previous manageability of the systems mentioned no influence on it, if specific information should be sent only to certain groups.

Based on this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for the configuration of system settings of a computing unit, which makes it possible to automatically send targeted information to selected groups.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1. Further developments are set forth in the subclaims.

The method according to the invention serves to configure system settings of a computing unit for a user, wherein the user carries out the configuration via an interface, usually referred to as an HMI interface, "human-machine interface", which exists correspondingly between him and the arithmetic unit. The computing unit is communicatively connectable to an Internet server and the system settings include settings for controlling information, entertainment and communication devices.

• – Herstellen der Verbindung zwischen der Recheneinheit und dem Server, Zugreifen der Recheneinheit auf zumindest eine auf dem Server verfügbare Datenbank, die mehrere Kommunikationspartner-Gruppierungen aufweist, denen der Nutzer entsprechend angehört,
• – Zuweisen zumindest einer bestimmten Systemeinstellung zu jeder möglichen Kommunikationspartner-Gruppierung an Hand von Eigenschaften der Kommunikationspartner-Gruppierungen, die durch den Nutzer festgelegt worden sind, mittels der Schnittstelle zwischen dem Nutzer und der Recheneinheit durch die Recheneinheit, und
• – durch die Systemeinstellung Zulassen einer Kommunikation und/oder Zulassen einer Informationsübertragung zwischen dem Nutzer und zumindest einer Kommunikationspartner-Gruppierung.

The procedure requires the following steps:

• Establishing the connection between the arithmetic unit and the server, accessing the arithmetic unit to at least one database available on the server, which has a plurality of communication partner groupings to which the user belongs accordingly,
• Assigning at least one particular system setting to each possible communication partner grouping based on properties of the communication partner groupings determined by the user, by means of the interface between the user and the arithmetic unit by the arithmetic unit, and
• By the system setting allowing a communication and / or allowing an information transfer between the user and at least one communication partner grouping.

Thus, the method of the present invention allows automated sending of information to selected groups of people, such as Internet communities, all sharing information on a common platform. A comfortable transmission of messages to selected addressees is possible, but not to an entirety of the members of a community.

Advantageously, one or more social networks are used, which make the database available, which is necessary for carrying out the method according to the invention; In particular, the access can take place via a data infrastructure cloud.

In a further embodiment of the method, apart from the unidirectional communication between the user and one or more of the communication partners selected by him / her, Also, bi-directional communication between the selected communication partner grouping and the user via the corresponding settings for controlling communication devices may be enabled.

Classified information can furthermore be provided for the transmission of information, with the classification of the information occurring in terms of technology, subject-related and / or related to the user. Work colleagues, for example, receive information related to the work and classified as sports enthusiasts receive information about the sport. A new or differently defined group "cooking friends" could include members from the two aforementioned groups.

The creation of the communication partner groupings in the database of the server can be performed by interactions, in particular by the user's information transmission to the database and / or the data infrastructure cloud.

In a preferred case, the user may be a vehicle user and the computing unit may be a central processing unit of a vehicle; then the interface of the user to the computing unit can also be present in a vehicle of the user.

Assigning the one or more particular system settings to each possible communication partner grouping can be done remotely, in particular by means of a portable internet-enabled communication device, preferably by means of a smartphone, thus allowing convenient remote configuration.

When assigning the one or more particular system settings to each possible communication party grouping, vehicle user and / or environmental and / or environmental parameters may be taken into account, which are detected, in particular, by in-vehicle sensors and / or an on-board satellite positioning system. At the same time or alternatively, the information received from the central processing unit can also be processed by this computing unit. Vehicle user and / or environmental and / or environmental parameters may be information about arrival or departure plans or about traffic or weather conditions necessary to carry out a project on site, or various other information or communications.

The communication, information and entertainment devices may include an infotainment system with which preferences for music and more can be exchanged.

When assigning the at least one specific system setting (SE) to each possible communication partner grouping, certain subsystem settings can be assigned to at least one individual contact partner of at least one communication partner grouping.

The HMI interface can enable haptic and / or acoustic interactions.

Further, a software program or software program product is disclosed, which is preferably stored on a data carrier, and which allows the execution of the method according to the invention when it is operated with the arithmetic unit.

These and other advantages are set forth by the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the figures. Showing:

1 as a haptic interface a touch screen and

2 a process flow diagram.

The inventive method relates in a first embodiment, which in 2 is shown on the configuration of system settings SE of a computing unit HU for a user N, who uses an HMI interface for input to the computing unit HU. The user N is a contact partner of communication partner groupings KG in social networks or Internet communities. The configuration of system settings SE according to the invention allows him to make contact with selected ones of these communication partner groupings KG and to disclose to these groups - or even a single group - information that can not be viewed by other groups of the same social network. This "information" relates to information, entertainment and communication and is therefore controllable via the system settings SE and below settings for controlling information, entertainment and communication devices.

For carrying out the method, the arithmetic unit HU is permanently or temporarily communicatively connected to an Internet server IS.

After the connection between the arithmetic unit HU and the server IS has been established, the arithmetic unit HU can access at least one database DB which is available on the server IS and has the communication partner groupings KG to which the user N belongs. Then, an assignment of at least one specific system setting SE is carried out by the arithmetic unit HU each possible communication partner grouping KG on the basis of properties of the communication partner groupings KG, which have been determined by the user N, by means of the interface between the user N and the computing unit HU. Thus, the communication partner groupings KG are characterized and are clearly selectable. Then, by the system setting, a communication and / or the information transmission between the user N and at least one communication partner group KG can be automated if the user N so desires.

The method can be used, for example, as follows:
A driver, ie the user N, wants the current location or the destination of the route planning or the currently heard song or the currently owned music station or the name of the person with whom he is currently on the phone or the estimated time of arrival or the current or averaged consumption or replace the seat occupancy of the vehicle with other persons. This information all relates to information or entertainment or communication, which are controlled by the settings of the information, entertainment and communication devices of a motor vehicle, but also a non-automotive system such as an infotainment system, and in so far of the System settings are included.

The selection of who receives which information, or with which group KG which contents are shared, should be carried out automatically according to the invention instead of by manual operation. Instead of individually determining the persons with whom this information is exchanged, according to the invention, the settings now relate to groups KG of persons who may in particular belong to social networks. The configuration of the system settings is therefore tailor-made for a particular user N, who can initiate assignments via a corresponding interface.

He can do this, for example via a speech recognition system or via a touch screen, as exemplified in 1 is shown. The communication partner groupings KG, to which the user N belongs, are displayed on the touch screen: in the middle you can see the communication partner groupings KG, which are known to the user N from social networks, for example the "yacht club".

Below is classified information: The classification of the information may be technical, factual and / or related to user N. Classes may be "music", "driving and consumption data", "location-related information" and so on. The user N now configures which information classes are assigned to which groups KG. In this case, a group may be the totality of all participants of a social network, or simply persons invited or invited by the user N. The classes are provided here with their own sample code, but it can also be a color code.

The user N now draws, for example, see the block arrows of "news", using gesture operation, the information classes on the groups KG, with whom he wants to share the information. By means of the pattern code he can recognize which information classes were assigned to which groups KG.

The exchange of information and the communication can thus not only in one direction, ie from the user N to the group KG, but also vice versa. This can restrict both which information is to be received technically (for example, in that the communication connection does not contain all groups) or also restrict which information is to be displayed to the user N, in order to protect him from unnecessary interference.

Furthermore, the configuration can be done both in the vehicle and via remote configuration, such as using a smartphone app or a vehicle homepage, which can be displayed on a PC or a smartphone.

Thus, via corresponding data or a data infrastructure cloud, also by means of mobile radio communication or wireless communication, at least one social network can be accessed, and the groups of one or more social networks can be determined, whereby by the configuration for all participants of a group by means of human resources. Machine interface, a selection of information is exchanged automatically with the groups.

The configuration can be performed group-specific, but also within a group KG for individual subscribers.

Furthermore, the configuration can be designed so that a change in the participants of a communication partner group KG automatically affects. Furthermore, particularly important or otherwise relevant groups KG can also be configured such that information exchange associated with these groups can be identified by a signal tone, for example.

Claims (14)

Method for configuring system settings (SE) of a computing unit (HU) for a user (N) by means of an interface present between the user (N) and the computing unit (HU) wherein the computing unit (HU) is communicatively connectable to at least one internet server (IS) and the system settings (SE) comprise settings for controlling information, entertainment and communication devices comprising the steps of: Accessing the computing unit (HU) to an available database (DB) having a plurality of communication partner groupings (KG) to which the user (N) belongs, Assigning at least one specific system setting (SE) to each possible communication partner groupings (KG) on the basis of properties of the communication partner groupings (KG) which have been determined by the user (N), by means of the interface between the user (N) and the arithmetic unit (HU), and - By the system setting Allow communication and / or allow an information transfer between the user (N) and at least one communication partner grouping (KG). The method of claim 1, wherein a connection between the arithmetic unit (HU) and the server (IS) is established and the arithmetic unit (HU) accesses available database (DB), which is stored on the server (IS). The method of claim 1, wherein the database (DB) at least on a local processing unit (HU) is available and in an independent step, this database (DB) after establishing a connection between the computing unit (HU) and the server (IS) between the HU and the IS can be synchronized. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein one or more social networks provide the database (DB) and the access to the database (DB) takes place in particular via a data infrastructure cloud. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising the step: - Allow unidirectional or bidirectional communication and information transmission between the user (N) and the at least one communication partner grouping (KG) by the settings for controlling communication devices. Method at least one of claims 1 to 5, comprising the step: For information transmission, provision of classified information, the classification of the information being technical, content-related and / or related to the user (N). Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, comprising the step: - Creating the communication partner groupings (KG) in the database of the server (IS) by interactions, in particular by information transmission of the user (N) to the database (DB) and / or the data infrastructure cloud. Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the user is a vehicle user (N) and / or wherein the computing unit (HU) is a central processing unit (HU) of a vehicle and / or wherein the interface of the user (N) to the computing unit (HU) is present in a vehicle of the user (N). Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, comprising the step: Assigning the at least one specific system setting (SE) to each possible communication partner groupings (KG) by means of remote access, in particular by means of a portable internet-capable communication device, preferably by means of a smartphone. Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the step: - Assigning the at least one specific system setting (SE) to each possible communication partner grouping (KG) Taking into account vehicle user and / or environmental and / or environmental parameters that are detected in particular by the vehicle's own sensors and / or by an on-board satellite positioning system and / / or the information received from the central processing unit (HU) and processed by the central processing unit (HU). The method of at least one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the communication, information and entertainment devices comprise an infotainment system. Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, comprising the step: - assigning the at least one specific system setting (SE) to each possible communication partner groupings (KG) assigning specific sub-system settings to at least one individual communication partner at least one communication partner groupings (KG). Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the interface between the person and the computing unit (HU) is an HMI interface, in particular an HMI interface, which allows haptic and / or acoustic interaction. Software program or software program product, preferably stored on a data carrier, for carrying out the method according to at least one of claims 1 to 13, when it is operated with the computing unit (HU).

Images