DE102011121108A1 - Method for outputting information such as display of menus to passengers in vehicle, involves coupling mobile devices to vehicle using interfaces, so that the mobile devices are assigned as portion of output system of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves coupling the mobile devices (12-15) e.g. smart phones to a vehicle (10) using the interfaces (20,21), so that the mobile devices are assigned as a portion of the output system of vehicle. The mobile devices are partially merged to a virtual machine. The control elements (23,24) are assigned to the mobile devices. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) a device for outputting information in vehicle; and (2) a vehicle.

Description

The present application relates to a method and a device for outputting information in a vehicle, wherein, optionally based on the output information, such as an output menu, an operation of functions within the vehicle can be performed. In particular, the present invention relates to such methods and apparatus in which mobile devices such. B. smartphones are used to expand an output system of the vehicle. The term output system encompasses all components of the vehicle, which can serve to output information to vehicle occupants, for. For example, displays or speakers. The term "information" encompasses all types of information, especially displaying menus or playing music or videos.

When coupling mobile devices, such as smartphones, to a vehicle, the approach of using an on-vehicle display to display information regarding the mobile device may be followed. Such a method is for example from the DE 10 2006 042 776 A1 known.

In principle, it is also possible to operate such a mobile device via operating elements of the vehicle, as described, for example, in US Pat DE 10 2006 058 362 B3 is disclosed.

Another approach is to use a mobile device, such as a smartphone, to expand a display in a vehicle. For this purpose, the mobile device is placed in a suitable recording and can then for example also be used to display vehicle data and to serve as a multi-function display for the vehicle. Such approaches are for example in the DE 103 08 897 A1 or the DE 10 2009 010 803 A1 described. Since in the devices described there only a single. Recording is used for a mobile device, these devices are relatively inflexible and can expand a limited output system of a vehicle.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus in which an extended use of mobile devices in a vehicle is made possible.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and an apparatus according to claim 10. The subclaims define further embodiments.

According to one aspect, there is provided a method of outputting information in a vehicle, comprising:
Coupling at least two mobile devices to the vehicle such that the at least two mobile devices form part of an output system of the vehicle.

By using at least two mobile devices, there is greater flexibility than in the prior art, where only one mobile device is used. For example, the at least two mobile devices may comprise a driver's smartphone and a passenger's smartphone so that information about the vehicle, in particular the vehicle's control elements, is stored both on data stored on the driver's smartphone and on data stored on the smartphone of the driver Passenger are stored, can be accessed and also at two positions in the vehicle corresponding displays can be provided.

The at least two mobile devices can be at least partially combined into a single virtual device, so that a common access, for example, to data such as telephone data, navigation data or media data and / or a coordinated use of displays of the mobile devices is possible. In this case, the at least two mobile devices can be completely combined to form a virtual device, or even only part of the stored data (for example, with the exception of private data) can be combined. In still other embodiments, more than two mobile devices are coupled to the vehicle and only a portion of the more than two mobile devices are aggregated. Such summarization can also be done in groups, for example, depending on a position in the vehicle. For example, mobile devices associated with rear passengers can be combined, and / or mobile devices assigned to passengers in the front seats can be combined.

The method may also include associating controls with individual mobile devices of the at least two mobile devices. For example, controls disposed on a steering wheel of the vehicle may be associated with a single one of the at least two mobile devices. The assignment can be made as a function of a location of the operating element and / or a location of the respective mobile device. For example, controls can be assigned to the nearest mobile device. Additionally or alternatively, the assignment of operating elements can also be carried out on the basis of a user selection.

In addition, a corresponding device is provided, comprising:
at least two interfaces for coupling mobile devices with a vehicle such that the mobile devices coupled to the at least two interfaces, in particular corresponding to at least two mobile devices, form part of an output system of the vehicle.

The at least two interfaces may include, for example, an interface on a steering wheel of the vehicle, an interface on a center console of the vehicle or interfaces arranged in a rear of the vehicle, in particular on a rear side of backrests of front seats.

Such a device, in particular a control device of such a device, can be set up to carry out one of the methods described above.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings with reference to embodiments. Show it:

1 a vehicle equipped with an embodiment of a device according to the invention,

2 a perspective view of part of the cockpit of the vehicle 1 .

3 schematically some elements of an embodiment of a device according to the invention,

4 3 is a diagram illustrating a summary of multiple mobile devices into a single virtual device according to some embodiments;

5 an assignment of operating elements according to an exemplary embodiment,

6 an assignment of controls according to a further embodiment, and

7 a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail. It should be understood that features of various embodiments may be combined with one another and / or features omitted unless otherwise specified.

In 1 is a vehicle 10 illustrated, which is equipped with a device according to an embodiment. The device comprises a plurality of recordings for mobile devices, for example smartphones or personal digital assistants, wherein in the embodiment of the 1 four mobile devices 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 are shown. The mobile devices 12 - 15 be via interfaces, such as wired interfaces or wireless interfaces such as Bluetooth interfaces, with a controller 16 connected to the use of mobile devices 12 - 15 in the vehicle 10 coordinated, which will be explained later. The control device 16 For example, it may be a control device of the vehicle also used for other purposes, for example a control device for an infotainment system of the vehicle.

In the embodiment of the 1 is in particular a mobile device 12 at a steering wheel 11 , In particular, at a location which is conventionally provided for a combination instrument, arranged, a mobile device 13 is located at a center console, and the mobile devices 14 and 15 For example, on a back of front seats of the vehicle 10 arranged to provide displays and / or controls for rear passengers.

2 shows a perspective view of the cockpit of the vehicle 10 with the steering wheel 11 , The mobile device 13 is in a recording 20 arranged, which may have an interface, in particular a wired interface. There is also a recording 21 provided in which, for example, the mobile device 12 of the 1 can be included. The steering wheel 11 indicates in the presentation of 2 controls 23 . 24 For example, four-way switch, buttons, knobs or the like, about which, for example, in conjunction with one or more of the mobile devices 12 - 15 an operation of functions can take place, for example of media playback functions, navigation functions or even an advertisement on one or more of the mobile devices 12 - 15 can be influenced, for example, to display information regarding the vehicle such as speed, consumption and the like. Also the recording 21 may have a wired interface. Instead of wired interfaces, wireless interfaces are also possible.

The situation in the cockpit of 2 is in 3 again shown schematically. The steering wheel 11 has the controls 23 . 24 on. At one position 30 , which is also called combination position in the following, since it is the position of a conventional combination instrument (for example, tachometer, tachometer, etc.) in a vehicle corresponds, for example, the recording 21 of the 2 provided, and at a position 31 , which is also referred to below as the center position, is for example the recording 20 of the 2 intended.

In the illustrated embodiments, as mentioned above, the mobile devices 12 - 15 serve for displaying various functions or also for displaying menus for vehicle operation or for selecting various functions, for example navigation functions, media playback functions or vehicle-related functions. As already described, the device according to the invention makes it possible to use a plurality of mobile devices in particular. In this case, each mobile device can be managed separately.

In another embodiment, two or more mobile devices, such as all mobile devices, may be aggregated into a single mobile device via which, in particular, data of all mobile devices can be accessed and displays can be coordinated. This is in 4 illustrated. In 4 n are individual mobile devices, in this case smartphones, 40_1 . 40_2 , ... 40_n shown below as mobile devices 40 be designated. These are for example by the controller 16 of the 1 to a single virtual device 41 summarized. As a result, for example, in all mobile devices 40 stored media data, such as music data, or address data are accessed, this access can then be done via all mobile devices or on-board controls. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the merging of the mobile devices 40 to the virtual device 41 can save some data, which then no access is possible, for example, private calendar data, other designated as private data or certain classes of data, such as all calendar data or all address data. It should also be noted that only some such mobile devices can be grouped together. In the example of 1 For example, the mobile devices 14 and 15 be combined into a virtual device, for example, to provide a common infotainment system for rear passengers, while the mobile devices 12 and 13 can be combined to form another virtual device to enable a uniform operation for driver and front passenger. In other embodiments, for example, the mobile devices 12 and 13 be treated separately. In still other embodiments, all mobile devices are treated separately.

When merging in the form of a virtual device, the information network thus formed can be controlled, in particular, from any position in which a mobile device is present, and the representation of a respective graphical user interface or the contents can be synchronized. For example, a currently played music track can be displayed on all mobile devices, or the same vehicle information can be displayed on all mobile devices that are combined to form the virtual device. As mentioned above, for example, it can thus be made possible for both the driver (for example via the mobile device 12 ) as well as the passenger (for example via the mobile device 13 ) operate the system. Also, controls such as the controls 23 and 24 then control the overall system and are not assigned to any mobile device exclusively.

It should be noted that even when merging multiple mobile devices into one virtual device, each mobile device need not display the same thing. For example, the mobile device 12 in such a case take over a function of a combination instrument, ie for example indicate speed or speed, while the mobile device 13 an advertisement for an infotainment system, e.g. B. for music playback, takes over.

By contrast, if the mobile devices are managed separately, a user interface can only display the data available on the device. Here the devices remain independent of each other. This allows z. B. also in a simple way that, for example, the mobile devices 14 . 15 of the 1 independent of each rear seat occupant infotainment functions provide. In this case, operator controls must be uniquely assigned to individual mobile devices at a given time.

As already mentioned above, mixed forms are possible, i. H. only a portion of data can be aggregated into a virtual device, or only a portion of the mobile devices are aggregated into the virtual device.

As mentioned above, it is desirable, in particular if the individual mobile devices are treated separately, but also if different mobile devices which are combined to form a virtual device, to display different elements, for example to display different menus, desirably control elements, In particular configurable controls, clearly assign a mobile device. In some embodiments, the assignment can be made depending on the location of the operating element and / or the location of the mobile device.

An example of this is in 5 shown, where 5 basically the figure of 3 shows, taking at the combination position 30 the mobile device 12 and at the center position 31 the mobile device 13 is arranged. In this case, in one embodiment, the controls 23 and 24 , which are attached to the steering wheel 11 and therefore typically by a driver of the vehicle 10 be operated, which is associated with that mobile device, which is closest to the driver, especially in the field of view, when the driver looks straight ahead. In case of 5 this is the mobile device 12 , The assignment of the controls 23 . 24 to the mobile device 12 is by circles / arrows 51 in 5 indicated. Will the mobile device 12 then, for example, taken out, so is only the mobile device 13 is present at this moment then the mobile device 13 nearest to the driver and the controls 23 and 24 are then in one embodiment of the mobile device 13 assigned.

Similarly, for example, controls that are located in a center console, the nearest mobile device, such as the mobile device 13 in the center position 31 , be assigned.

In addition or as an alternative to such an automatic allocation, an assignment of operating elements to mobile devices can also be user-configurable. For example, the assignment can first be made automatically as explained above, and then changed to user request. In still other embodiments, there is no automatic association, and the association is generally set by a user. As a result, for example, as in 6 through circles / arrows 61 a driver indicated by user choice, even if the mobile devices 12 and 13 in their respective positions 30 . 31 are arranged, determine that the controls 23 . 24 the mobile device 13 assigned.

In particular, this assignment can be made by means of a representation of a graphical user interface on one or more of the mobile devices 12 - 15 respectively.

In 7 a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a method according to the invention is shown. It should be noted that the in 7 shown steps or operations need not necessarily be performed in the order shown, and also some operations or steps may be omitted in some embodiments.

In step 70 At least two mobile devices are coupled to a vehicle, for example the mobile devices 12 - 15 with the vehicle 10 of the 1 , in particular with the control device 16 of the vehicle 1 , In step 71 On the basis of at least two of the at least two mobile devices, a virtual device is formed, as described with reference to FIG 4 was explained. Additionally or alternatively, in step 72 As also explained above, one or more mobile devices are kept separate.

In step 73 be assigned controls, for example, arranged in a steering wheel controls, mobile devices, as described above, for example, with reference to the 5 and 6 was explained.

It should be understood that the embodiments described above are for illustration only and are not to be construed as limiting. In particular, a variety of variations and modifications are possible. For example, mobile devices or interfaces or recordings thereof may also be arranged at different locations than in the embodiments illustrated above. Also, mobile devices are not limited to smartphones, but other devices such as tablet computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), or navigation devices can serve as mobile devices.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102006042776 A1 [0002]
• DE 102006058362 B3 [0003]
• DE 10308897 A1 [0004]
• DE 102009010803 A1 [0004]

Claims (14)

Method for outputting information in a vehicle ( 10 ), comprising: coupling at least two mobile devices ( 12 - 15 ) with the vehicle such that the at least two mobile devices form part of an output system of the vehicle ( 10 ) form. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling takes place such that the at least two mobile devices form part of a system for operating functions in the vehicle. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising: at least partially summarizing the at least two mobile devices ( 12 - 15 ) to a virtual device ( 41 ) in such a way that data from the at least two mobile devices are shared via the virtual device ( 41 ) can be accessed. The method of claim 3, further comprising: selecting which mobile devices to the virtual device ( 41 ), depending on a position of the mobile devices. Method according to one of claims 1-4, further comprising: at least partially guiding the at least two mobile devices ( 12 - 15 ) as separate facilities. Method according to one of claims 1-5, further comprising: assigning control elements ( 23 . 24 ) of the vehicle to respective mobile devices of the at least two mobile devices ( 12 - 15 ). Method according to Claim 6, characterized in that the assignment as a function of a position of the operating devices ( 23 . 24 ) and / or a position of the mobile devices ( 12 - 15 ) he follows. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that on a steering wheel ( 11 ) of the vehicle ( 23 . 24 ) a mobile device ( 12 ) of the at least two mobile devices ( 12 - 15 ) which is most centrally located in a driver's field of vision when the driver is looking straight ahead. Method according to one of the claims 6-8, wherein the assignment depends on. an input by an operator. Device for outputting information in a vehicle ( 10 ), comprising: at least two interfaces ( 20 . 21 ) for coupling at least two mobile devices ( 12 - 15 ) with the vehicle ( 10 ) such that the at least two mobile devices ( 12 - 15 ) form part of an output system of the vehicle. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that a first interface ( 21 ) of the at least two interfaces is arranged at a position of a combination instrument. Apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that a second interface ( 20 ) of at least two interfaces ( 20 . 21 ) on a center console of the vehicle ( 10 ) is arranged. Device according to one of claims 10-12, characterized in that the device for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1-9 is configured. Vehicle ( 10 ) with a device according to any one of claims 10-13.

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