DE102020133235A1 - METHOD OF OPERATING A VEHICLE AND TELEPHONE DEVICE, MOTOR VEHICLE AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - Google Patents

Abstract

Examples relate to a method (10) for operating a vehicle (20) with a telephone device or a telephone device (21a) coupled to the vehicle. The method (10) includes detecting (11) a telephone call (25) from an occupant (21) of the vehicle (20) with a conversation partner (24) and detecting (12) information relevant to the telephone call (25). The method (10) also includes outputting (13) the relevant information to the conversation partner (24). Further examples relate to a motor vehicle (20) and a computer program product.

Description

technical field

Exemplary embodiments relate to a method for operating a vehicle with a telephone device and a method for operating a telephone device. Further exemplary embodiments relate to a motor vehicle, in particular with a hands-free device, and a computer program product.

background

In addition to conventional driving functions, functions for entertainment, infotainment and communication are increasingly being implemented in modern motor vehicles. For example, on-board systems are common which enable a vehicle occupant's cell phone to be connected to the vehicle. In this way, a driver can, for example, operate his mobile phone or smartphone via the on-board computer.

A hands-free function for the driver in the vehicle is also possible when the mobile phone is connected. An audio system in the vehicle can be used conveniently to output the voice of the person you are talking to, and a microphone in the vehicle can also be used to record the driver's voice. The hands-free function can make it possible to use a telephone in the vehicle in accordance with the rules, in particular while driving.

However, it can be problematic that other vehicle occupants can also follow the conversation in addition to the driver. In particular, the case can arise that a conversation partner of the driver is not or cannot be informed about the presence of other occupants in the vehicle and confidential or sensitive information thus reaches not only the driver but also the other occupants of the vehicle in an undesired manner. Furthermore, there can always be problems with the reception of the telephone device while driving (e.g. poor cell phone reception while driving in a tunnel or in areas with poor network coverage). In such cases, the conversation can be terminated, which can lead to unpleasant situations, e.g. if the other party thinks that the call was simply broken off in the middle of the conversation.

One possibility for the driver to avoid such situations would be not to accept any calls in the vehicle. However, this would mean that the driving time cannot be used well, or the driver would have to stop for phone calls or inform the person he is talking to about any connection problems that may arise. This can significantly reduce the convenience of using a mobile device for telephone calls in a vehicle.

summary

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide improved concepts for using telephone devices for telephone calls, in particular for use in vehicles with hands-free functions.

This object is solved according to the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent patent claims, the following description and in connection with the figures.

Accordingly, a method for operating a vehicle with a telephone device is proposed. The method includes detecting a telephone call from an occupant of the vehicle to a conversation partner, in particular to a conversation partner outside of the vehicle. The method also includes capturing information relevant to the telephone call, in particular vehicle information. Finally, according to the method, it is provided that the relevant information is output to the conversation partner.

The telephone call can be, for example, an incoming or outgoing telephone call by the occupant with the potential interlocutor (e.g. actual interlocutor when the called party accepts the call). For example, it can be detected when the occupant or the interlocutor is called, i.e. an incoming call is displayed on a telephone device of the occupant or the interlocutor (e.g. telephone ringing). In this case, provision can be made for detecting whether one or more pieces of information relevant to the call are present. The relevant information can relate in particular to the vehicle with the occupants. For example, the vehicle information can influence the conversation (e.g. the course of the conversation or the content of the conversation; e.g. the technical course of the connection, e.g. regarding the connection quality).

If such relevant information is available, it can be output automatically to the conversation partner, for example. If, for example, a caller calls the driver of the vehicle, the relevant information can be given to the caller as the conversation partner before the conversation actually begins output (e.g. output acoustically). For example, the driver can accept the phone call, whereupon the relevant information is output and after the information has been output the actual conversation can begin (eg by activating the microphone and/or loudspeaker of the driver's mobile phone or the hands-free device). For example, a waiting melody can be played to the driver during the automatic output of the relevant information to the conversation partner.

All types of telecommunications technologies in vehicles that are suitable for telephone calls can be considered as a telephone device, e.g. mobile radio connection using the driver's mobile phone coupled to the vehicle's hands-free system, car telephone, satellite telephony and/or Voice-over-IP/IP telephony. For example, an occupant's car phone or cell phone coupled to an on-board computer of the vehicle for hands-free operation of the vehicle may be used. Such a coupling is possible, for example, by means of a cable connection or radio connection, in particular a Bluetooth connection can be used. The mobile phone of the occupant (e.g. a driver of the vehicle) can then be operated via the on-board computer, for example, and can use a vehicle microphone and/or a vehicle loudspeaker for the conversation (e.g. the vehicle's hands-free function).

The method can be controlled by an on-board computer of the vehicle, for example. For example, the functions can be provided by software. For example, after the driver has answered the call, the on-board computer can initially leave the microphone deactivated and instead output the relevant information to the caller via audio output. Control of the method by the on-board computer can enable the method to be possible with all types of mobile radio devices that can be coupled to the vehicle, e.g. mobile phones or smartphones, without these themselves having to have a special function.

The proposed method can support a user of a telephone device, in particular in vehicles, in communicating information about the general conditions of a call to be made to a conversation partner (e.g. with regard to other people in the vicinity of the user, a location of the user and/or a current reception quality of the telephone device). By automatically taking over the information output to the interlocutor according to the proposed method, the user can, for example, concentrate better on other things, e.g. driving a vehicle. For example, the method can increase user comfort when using a telephone device, particularly in a vehicle.

For example, provision can be made for the relevant information to relate to information on a current reception quality of the telephone device and/or on an expected reception quality of the telephone device. For example, the vehicle or an on-board computer can judge better than the user himself whether the reception quality is good or bad. For example, based on a planned route (e.g. navigation route), the vehicle can also predict how the reception quality will be or will develop during the call (e.g. based on network coverage maps or information on reception quality on the following route section). As a result, information regarding the reception quality to be expected during the call can be made available to the call partner in an improved manner according to the method.

For example, provision can be made for the relevant information to relate to information about the occupants, in particular the number of occupants in the vehicle. An on-board computer can determine the number of occupants particularly easily using seat occupancy sensors or an interior camera and use this information for the method. Using image recognition, it may still be possible, for example, to recognize the identity of the occupants and use it for the procedure within the framework of the applicable personal rights (e.g. the conversation partner can be told who is sitting in the vehicle next to the occupant making the call). In this way, the conversation partner can be given more precise information regarding the status of vehicle occupancy.

For example, it can be provided that the relevant information relates to information on current traffic information. Taking into account the calendar data of the user in the vehicle, it can be determined, for example, whether the conversation partner has an appointment with the user in the vehicle. If the meeting point of the appointment matches a set travel destination, the conversation partner can be informed, for example, how long the expected travel time is until arrival. For example, based on a stored address of the conversation partner and a destination, it can be determined whether the user is driving to the conversation partner in the vehicle and the conversation partner can then be informed of an estimated time of arrival. In other words, the traffic information can relate to a traffic-dependent remaining travel time to a location of the conversation partner. The vehicle can determine this information more easily than the driver, for example could easily be distracted during the journey by determining the remaining journey time/distance.

For example, it can be provided that the acquisition of the relevant information includes a selection of the relevant information for the output to the conversation partner. The selection can be carried out manually (e.g. by the user in the vehicle, e.g. the driver) or be carried out automatically according to a rule (e.g. algorithm). The advantage can be an output of information specially selected for the current interlocutor, which can also be really relevant for the interlocutor.

For example, provision can be made accordingly to give the occupant of the vehicle a selection option for selecting the relevant information before accepting the call. This can give the occupants (e.g. the driver) the opportunity to select suitable information for the output to the conversation partner themselves, depending on the situation.

For example, it can also be provided that the occupant of the vehicle is given the opportunity to make a pre-selection and to save it. For example, the driver (e.g. the occupant of the vehicle) can set before a trip which relevant information is to be output to potential callers during the following trip. For example, he can make a corresponding pre-selection if certain passengers are in the vehicle (e.g. selection of the output of information on seat occupancy) and/or make a pre-selection assigned to possible callers.

For example, it can be provided that the relevant information for the output to the conversation partner is selected depending on the respective conversation partner. For example, a work colleague can be given different relevant information than a family member. For example, the driver of the vehicle can individually select for certain individuals which type or types of relevant information should be output to the respective conversation partner before the start of a telephone call in the vehicle. This can enable a high level of individualization through the method, as a result of which each potential interlocutor can receive more appropriate, relevant information.

For example, it can be provided that the outputting of the relevant information includes outputting an audio message to the conversation partner before the start of the telephone conversation. Alternatively, a text message can also be generated and output, which can reproduce the relevant information (e.g. for display on a display of a telephone device of the interlocutor). However, an acoustic playback before a desired telephone conversation can have the advantage that the relevant information is communicated in the same communication channel as the conversation (i.e. acoustically). This can bring about an improved reception of the relevant information for the interlocutor.

For example, it can be provided that the audio message is a computer-generated voice message or a recorded voice message. A computer-generated voice message can have the advantage that it can be adapted each time to suit the situation of the relevant information. A voice message recorded by the driver himself can have the advantage that the method can be made more personal (e.g. more personal effect on the interlocutor when issuing the relevant information before the start of the actual conversation with the occupant of the vehicle). For example, the recorded voice message can be designed in such a way that the person you are talking to does not even notice that the driver is not speaking live, but that a saved message is first played to the person you are talking to.

One aspect of the disclosure relates to another method provided for operating a telephone device. The method includes detecting an incoming or outgoing phone call at the phone device. Provision is also made for recording information relevant to the telephone call. The method also includes outputting the relevant information to a conversation partner before starting a conversation with the conversation partner.

The relevant information can e.g. be output before a microphone and/or an audio output of the telephone device is activated in order to be able to start a conversation with the interlocutor. The process can be controlled by an app on a smartphone, for example. This allows, for example, relevant information to be determined from the smartphone and used in the process.

In this case, the relevant information can relate, for example, to a location of the user (eg a GPS position of the telephone device, eg the smartphone). The relevant information can alternatively or additionally relate to a movement profile of the telephone device and thus, in addition to a current reception quality, also provide a predicted reception quality during the duration of the conversation (e.g. by extrapolating the historical movement course, a future movement course and in connection with a network coverage map, a future expected reception quality for the call can be determined). A future reception quality can be predicted efficiently, for example, by transmitting location data via an app to a cloud data center, in which case the calculated future reception quality can in turn be communicated to the app by the cloud data center after a corresponding calculation.

A further aspect of the disclosure relates to a motor vehicle comprising a telephone device or a radio device which is designed to couple a mobile radio device to the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle also includes a control device that is designed to carry out a method described above or below.

An advantage of a motor vehicle with such a control device can be that any mobile radio device can be used to carry out the proposed method. In other words, the vehicle itself can control the process without a coupled mobile radio device needing an additional special function. This allows the method to be compatible with a large number of telephone devices (e.g. also with conventional or older mobile phones (e.g. no smartphones) on which no special apps can be installed).

A further aspect relates to a computer program product with a program code which is designed to carry out a method described above and/or below when the program runs on a processor or a programmable hardware component. Such a computer program product or program can be used, for example, on an on-board computer of a vehicle with a hands-free facility or on a user's mobile device, so that a user of the respective device can receive improved support for telephone calls.

Accordingly, depending on particular implementation needs, embodiments of the disclosure may be implemented in hardware or in software. The implementation may be performed using a digital storage medium such as a floppy disk, a DVD, a Blu-ray disk, a CD, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM or a FLASH memory, a hard disk or other magnetic or optical memory, on which electronically readable control signals are stored, which can interact or interact with a programmable hardware component in such a way that the respective method is carried out.

A programmable hardware component can be formed by a processor, a computer processor (CPU = central processing unit), a graphics processor (GPU = graphics processing unit), a computer, a computer system, an ASIC, an IC, a SoC, a programmable logic element or an FPGA be.

The digital storage medium can therefore be machine or computer readable. Some embodiments thus include a data carrier that has electronically readable control signals that are able to interact with a programmable computer system or a programmable hardware component in such a way that one of the methods described herein is carried out. An embodiment is thus a data carrier (or a digital storage medium or a computer-readable medium) on which the program for performing one of the methods described herein is recorded.

In general, it is correspondingly provided that exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are implemented as a program, firmware, computer program or computer program product with a program code or as data, the program code or the data being operative to carry out one of the methods when the program is based on a Processor or a programmable hardware component expires. The program code or the data can also be stored, for example, on a machine-readable carrier or data carrier. The program code or data may be in the form of source code, machine code or byte code, as well as other intermediate code, among others.

character list

• 1 ein Flussdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum Betreiben eines Fahrzeugs mit einer Telefonvorrichtung; und
• 2 ein schematisches Beispiel eines Kraftfahrzeugs mit einem gekoppelten Mobilfunkgerät.

Exemplary embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to the enclosed figures. Show it:

• 1 a flow chart of a method for operating a vehicle with a phone device; and
• 2 a schematic example of a motor vehicle with a coupled mobile radio device.

description

Various embodiments will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some Examples are shown. In the figures, the thickness dimensions of lines, layers, and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity. In the following description of the accompanying figures, which only show a few exemplary embodiments, the same reference symbols can denote the same or comparable components.

An element that is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, may be directly connected or coupled to the other element, or that there may be intervening elements. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meanings as those of ordinary skill in the art to which the exemplary embodiments pertain.

When a call is received in a vehicle with a hands-free function, incoming calls on the cell phone connected to the vehicle are currently put through to the vehicle's hands-free system. As a result, situations can arise when driving in which the driver wants or has to make recurring announcements, e.g. regarding the status of the vehicle or the current situation in the vehicle or driving, when he accepts a call. For example, the driver can always inform the person he is talking to that he is on the phone in the car and that it is therefore theoretically possible at any time that the connection will break off soon, or he can tell the person he is talking to how long the expected driving time is until a meeting point with the person he is talking to amounts to. It may also be possible that the driver does not want the other party to reveal certain information that the passengers in the vehicle can then also hear. This can be the case in particular if the person you are talking to does not know that there are passengers in the car and who they are (e.g. the driver’s employees or colleagues or the driver’s family). For example, it may be the case that information which the car can determine in principle always has to be communicated manually by the driver. Such recurring status statements can distract the driver from what is happening on the road and, depending on the situation, can also cause stress. This can be perceived as a loss of comfort.

In the following, therefore, concepts are proposed which can make it possible to improve the conduct of telephone calls, particularly in vehicles.

1 FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram of a method 10 for operating a vehicle with a telephone device. In this case, the method includes detecting 11 a telephone call between an occupant of the vehicle and a conversation partner and detecting 12 information relevant to the telephone call. The method 10 also includes an output 13 of the relevant information to the conversation partner.

For example, someone from outside the vehicle can call a driver of the vehicle, e.g., via a driver's cellular phone connected to a hands-free kit of the vehicle. Such an incoming call can be detected 11 according to the method. It can then be detected 12 whether there is relevant information for the incoming call. Such information can relate to reception quality or the number of people in the vehicle, for example. For example, the relevant information may be selected by the driver prior to answering the call, or may be preselected.

Finally, the relevant information can be output to the driver's interlocutor, i.e. the person calling the driver of the vehicle, e.g., in an audio message. The relevant information can be output 13 e.g. after the driver has accepted the phone call and before a call connection is activated between the driver and the conversation partner (e.g. the microphone and/or the loudspeaker of the hands-free system can be deactivated during the output 13 of the relevant information; e.g while the relevant information is being output, a short melody can be played over a car loudspeaker to bridge the waiting time for the driver).

For example, an integration of a function for a hands-free function can thus take place, which is characterized in that it tells a caller (e.g. predefined by a user) the situation-adapted status messages by voice output (text-to-speech) in advance before the call to the Hands-free system is handed over. This can represent an increase in comfort for the driver or user, since recurring statements can be automated. Furthermore, the concept can increase safety for the driver, for example by avoiding stressful situations. With other concepts, the person called can experience stress because, for example, in situations in which he is not alone in the vehicle, he does not want to address certain topics, but at the same time does not want to communicate this obviously to all passengers; on the other hand, according to the proposed concept, the caller can be discreetly informed automatically that there are other passengers in the vehicle. The proposed concept can, for example, help to reduce the stress of the person called if the connection breaks down due to poor reception, since the caller is informed automatically received that a connection abort may be possible due to poor network quality. With other hands-free systems, on the other hand, the called driver may have to glance at the central display to try to reconnect immediately if he does not want to appear impolite, which can distract the driver from his driving task, for example.

For example, the driver can use the center console or a vehicle app on his mobile device to set the vehicle to speak an automatically generated or selected text to the caller before the call is accepted (e.g. before the call begins). The spoken text, e.g. the automatic audio message, can include vehicle information regarding the seat occupancy, e.g.: "There are other people in the vehicle" and/or vehicle information regarding the position of the vehicle/signal strength of the telephone device, e.g. "Notice: Poor network coverage" and /or include vehicle information relating to navigation data, e.g. "Remaining distance 10 km".

In contrast to the prior art, in which an incoming call via the hands-free system of a vehicle can begin immediately after the call is accepted, it is proposed here that information (e.g. vehicle information) be automatically communicated to the caller before the actual call begins. The information can be announced on the basis of user settings and/or current vehicle information.

Further details and aspects are mentioned in connection with the embodiments described above or below. This in 1 The embodiment shown may have one or more optional additional features corresponding to one or more aspects considered in connection with the proposed concept or with one or more above or below (e.g 2 ) described embodiments are mentioned.

2 shows a schematic example of a motor vehicle 20 with a coupled mobile radio device 21a (eg telephone device). The mobile radio device 21a can belong to a driver 21 of the vehicle 20, for example. The mobile radio device 21a can be coupled to an onboard computer 20a of the vehicle 20 by means of a Bluetooth connection or the like. The vehicle 20 can also include a control device 20b, which is designed to execute a method proposed in this disclosure for automatically outputting information to a caller or conversation partner. In addition to the driver 21, other passengers 22 can also ride in the vehicle.

The example shown shows that a caller 24, ie the driver's potential conversation partner 24, calls the driver 21 from outside the vehicle 20 with his telephone 24a. A call 25 incoming to the mobile device 21a of the driver 21 is in 2 shown schematically using radio waves. For example, the call 25 can be transmitted from the phone 24a of the caller 24 to the mobile device 21a of the driver via a cell phone mast 23 (eg base station 23).

If the driver 21 accepts the call, the control device 20b can delay the beginning of the call in order to be able to first provide the caller 24 with information (e.g. automatically). For example, the control unit 20b can determine via the onboard computer 20a (e.g. using seat occupancy sensors or interior cameras) that there are other passengers 22 in the vehicle 20. Accordingly, the caller 24 can be automatically informed that (and e.g. how many) passengers are traveling in the car. For example, by analyzing the on-board computer 20a or the mobile phone 21a, the control unit can determine whether the driver 21 has an appointment with the caller 24 (e.g. by analyzing the appointment calendar of the driver 21 or her mobile phone 21a). If this is the case, the automatically output information can include, for example, how long the driver 21 will likely need to get to the meeting point.

The motor vehicle 20 with the hands-free device and the control unit 20b can thus contribute to increasing the comfort for the driver 21 when making telephone calls. For example, in the case of an outgoing call (e.g. from the driver 21 to the conversation partner 24), after the conversation partner has accepted the call and before the microphone and loudspeaker of the hands-free device are activated, information that is situational and/or selected as a function of the conversation partner 24 (e.g. vehicle information) be issued to the interlocutor 24 before the actual conversation begins.

Further details and aspects are mentioned in connection with the embodiments described above or below. This in 2 The embodiment shown may have one or more optional additional features corresponding to one or more aspects considered in connection with the proposed concept or with one or more above (e.g 1 ) or in the exemplary embodiments described below.

Proposed concepts relate to the automatic announcement of situationally selected information before the start of a telephone conversation, eg with a driver of a vehicle. In particular, information relating to the vehicle or the driving situation can be communicated automatically to a conversation partner of the driver in this way, so that the driver does not have to communicate this information to the conversation partner himself, which can make it easier to make calls in the vehicle.

Claims (13)

A method (10) for operating a vehicle (20) with a telephone device (21a), the method comprising: Recording (11) a telephone call (25) of an occupant (21) of the vehicle (20) with a conversation partner (24), acquiring (12) information relevant to the telephone call (25); and Outputting (13) the relevant information to the interlocutor (24). Method (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the relevant information includes information about a current reception quality of the telephone device and / or an expected reception quality of the telephone device. Method (10) according to claim 1 or 2 , The relevant information includes information about the occupants (21, 22), in particular a number of occupants of the vehicle (20). Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the relevant information comprises information on current traffic information. Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the acquisition (12) of the relevant information comprises a selection of the relevant information for the output (13) to the conversation partner (24). Method (10) according to claim 5 , It being provided that the occupant (21) of the vehicle (20) is given a choice for selecting the relevant information before accepting the call. Method (10) according to claim 5 or 6 , It being provided that the occupant (21) of the vehicle (20) is given the opportunity to make a pre-selection and to save it. Method (10) according to any one of Claims 5 until 7 , wherein the selection of the relevant information for the output (13) to the interlocutor (24) takes place depending on a respective interlocutor (24). Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outputting (13) of the relevant information comprises outputting an audio message to the conversation partner (24) before the start of the telephone conversation. Method (10) according to claim 9 , wherein the audio message is a computer generated voice message or a recorded voice message. A method of operating a telephone device (21a, 24a), the method comprising: detecting an incoming or outgoing telephone call (25) on the telephone device (21a, 24a), capturing information relevant to the telephone call (25); and Outputting the relevant information to a conversation partner (24) before starting a conversation with the conversation partner (24). Motor vehicle (20) comprising an on-board system (20a) with a telephone device or a radio device which is designed to couple a mobile radio device (21a) to the motor vehicle (20), the motor vehicle (20) also comprising a control device (20b) which is designed is to carry out a method (10) according to any one of the preceding claims. Computer program product with a program code that is designed, a method (10) according to one of the preceding Claims 1 until 11 performed if the program runs on a processor or a programmable hardware component.

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