DE102022109323A1 - Method and device for providing a showroom mode - Google Patents

Abstract

A device (101) for providing a showroom mode of an exhibited, stationary vehicle (100) is described. The device (101) is set up to determine user data relating to a user who inspects the vehicle (100) on display and to adapt and/or set the showroom mode of the vehicle (100) depending on the user data.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a corresponding device which are designed to provide a showroom mode for a vehicle.

For example, a vehicle can be displayed in a showroom so that interested parties can inspect the vehicle. The present document deals with the technical task of providing a method and a device through which a particularly advantageous and/or high-quality and/or targeted exhibition of a vehicle can be made possible.

The task is solved by each of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described, among other things, in the dependent claims. It should be noted that additional features of a patent claim dependent on an independent patent claim can form a separate invention independent of the combination of all the features of the independent patent claim, without the features of the independent patent claim or only in combination with a subset of the features of the independent patent claim can be made the subject of an independent claim, a division application or a subsequent application. This applies equally to technical teachings described in the description, which may constitute an invention independent of the features of the independent patent claims.

According to one aspect, a device for providing a showroom mode of an exhibited, stationary (motor) vehicle is described. For example, the vehicle can be in a showroom to be inspected by users. The one or more (in particular all) drive motors of the vehicle (an internal combustion engine and/or an electric motor) can be deactivated. Furthermore, the vehicle can optionally be supplied with power from an energy source external to the vehicle. In showroom mode, only electrical consumers may be able to be operated. As already explained above, all of the vehicle's electric drive motors can be deactivated.

The device is set up to determine user data relating to the user who inspects the vehicle on display (at a specific point in time). For example, based on the sensor data from one or more sensors of the vehicle, it can be recognized that a user is located in the interior of the vehicle (e.g. in the driver's seat). Furthermore, the identity of the user can be determined (based on the sensor data). User data for the recognized user can then be determined.

The device can be set up to receive the user data (for the identified user) via a communication connection (e.g. Bluetooth, WLAN, 3G, 4G, or 5G), in particular via a wireless communication connection, from a unit external to the vehicle, in particular from a server and / or from a user device (such as a smartphone) of the user. This allows particularly precise user data to be provided.

The user data may include: data relating to one or more vehicle settings, in particular relating to a driving mode, that the user uses in another vehicle; Data relating to the user's driving behavior when using another vehicle; Data relating to one or more of the user's navigation destinations in a navigation system of another vehicle; Data relating to a user profile of the user in another vehicle; Data relating to one or more vehicle models or vehicle types and/or one or more special equipment that the user has used in the past; Data relating to the user's age, gender, family situation (single vs. married, number of children, etc.), profession, and/or interests; Data relating to a user's search history on an Internet search engine; and/or data relating to a user's browsing history in an Internet browser.

The data may have been collected in advance by the vehicle-external unit and may then be provided to the device.

The device is further set up to adapt and/or set the showroom mode of the vehicle (at the specific time) depending on the user data. The device can in particular be set up to create a user model based on the user data. The showroom mode can then be adapted and/or set in a particularly precise manner based on the user's user model, in particular using a recommender algorithm.

A device is thus described which enables user-specific adjustment of the vehicle's showroom mode in order to increase the quality of an exhibition of the vehicle. Showroom mode can be provided automatically by the device (without a User input from the user is required and/or has occurred to start the showroom mode).

The device can be set up to play an audio and/or video signal via an output unit (e.g. on a screen) of the vehicle as part of the showroom mode while the user inspects the vehicle. The playback can take place automatically (without any user input from the user being required and/or having occurred). The audio and/or video signal, in particular the subject of the audio and/or video signal, can be selected from a set of predefined audio and/or video signals (which are stored, for example, on a storage unit of the vehicle) depending on the user data.

Alternatively or additionally, the device can be set up to operate a lighting unit (e.g. a screen, an instrument cluster, an LED, interior lighting, etc.) of the vehicle as part of the showroom mode in order to emit light while the user inspects the vehicle . The operation of the lighting element can take place automatically (without any user input from the user being required and/or having occurred). The light emitted by the lighting unit, in particular the color and/or the intensity of the light, can be set and/or adjusted depending on the user data.

Alternatively or additionally, the device can be set up to generate a synthetic driving noise as part of the showroom mode while the user inspects the vehicle (e.g. by outputting an audio signal via one or more loudspeakers of the vehicle). The driving noise can be output automatically (without user input being required and/or having occurred). The synthetic driving noise can be generated and/or adjusted depending on the user data.

Alternatively or additionally, the device can be set up to adjust the interior lighting and/or the (optical, in particular color) design of the information display, in particular the instrument cluster, of the vehicle as a function of the user data as part of the showroom mode while the user inspects the vehicle . The adjustment can take place automatically (without any user input being required and/or having occurred).

Alternatively or additionally, the device can be set up, as part of the showroom mode, to simulate a driving situation on a user interface and/or on one or more output elements of the vehicle depending on the user data while the user inspects the vehicle. The driving situation can be simulated automatically (without user input being required and/or having been made).

The quality of the showroom mode can be particularly increased by one or more of the above-mentioned measures.

According to a further aspect, a (road) motor vehicle (in particular a passenger car or a truck or a bus or a motorcycle) is described which includes the device described in this document.

According to a further aspect, a method for providing a showroom mode of an exhibited, stationary vehicle is described. The method includes determining user data relating to the user who inspects the exhibited vehicle (at a current point in time). The method further includes adjusting and/or setting the showroom mode of the vehicle (at the current time) depending on the user data.

According to a further aspect, a software (SW) program is described. The SW program can be set up to run on a processor (e.g. on a vehicle control unit) and thereby carry out the method described in this document.

According to a further aspect, a storage medium is described. The storage medium may include a SW program configured to be executed on a processor and thereby carry out the method described in this document.

It should be noted that the methods, devices and systems described in this document can be used both alone and in combination with other methods, devices and systems described in this document. Furthermore, any aspects of the methods, devices and systems described in this document can be combined with one another in a variety of ways. In particular, the features of the claims can be combined with one another in a variety of ways. Furthermore, features listed in brackets are to be understood as optional features.

• 1 beispielhafte Komponenten eines Fahrzeugs;
• 2 eine beispielhafte Video-Wiedergabe in dem Showroom-Modus des Fahrzeugs; und
• 3 ein Ablaufdiagramm eines beispielhaften Verfahrens zur Bereitstellung eines Showroom-Modus eines Fahrzeugs.

The invention is further described in more detail using exemplary embodiments. Show it

• 1 exemplary components of a vehicle;
• 2 an exemplary video playback in the vehicle's showroom mode; and
• 3 a flowchart of an exemplary method for providing a showroom mode of a vehicle.

As explained at the beginning, this document is concerned with enabling a particularly advantageous and/or targeted exhibition of vehicles in an efficient manner. In this context shows 1 an example vehicle 100 that includes a user interface 103 for interaction with a user of the vehicle 100. The user interface 103 may include one or more controls that allow the user to make user input, for example to set an operating parameter of the vehicle 100 and/or to cause the playback of audio and/or video data in the vehicle 100. Furthermore, the user interface 103 can include an output unit, in particular a screen, via which a user output of the vehicle 100 can be effected, for example to play audio and/or video data.

The vehicle 100 can be designed to communicate via a (wireless) communication connection 111 (e.g. Bluetooth, WLAN, 3G, 4G, 5G) with a vehicle-external unit 110, for example with a server or with a user device, such as a smartphone, of a user of the Vehicle 100 to communicate. For this purpose, the vehicle 100 can have a communication unit 102.

• • Präferenzen des Nutzers in Bezug auf die Nutzung eines Fahrzeugs;
• • Fahrzeug-Einstellungen, die der Nutzer in einem anderen Fahrzeug vorgenommen hat und/oder verwendet;
• • einen Verlauf von Suchanfragen in einer Internet-Suchmaschine; und/oder
• • einen Verlauf von Internetseiten in einem Internet-Browser.

A (control) device 101 of the vehicle 100 can be set up to obtain user data relating to a user of the vehicle 100 from one or more vehicle-external units 110 via the communication connection 111. The user uses the vehicle 100 for the first time, for example to familiarize himself with the vehicle 100 in a showroom. The user data can show,

• • User preferences regarding the use of a vehicle;
• • Vehicle settings that the user has made and/or used in another vehicle;
• • a history of search queries in an Internet search engine; and or
• • a history of Internet pages in an Internet browser.

• • Ausgeben von Audio- und/oder Videodaten über eine Ausgabeeinheit des Fahrzeugs 100; und
• • Betreiben von ein oder mehreren Leuchtelementen 104 des Fahrzeugs 100, z.B. um eine bestimmte Innenraum-Beleuchtung des Fahrzeugs 100 zu bewirken.

The device 101 can further be set up to adapt a showroom mode, which is used to exhibit the vehicle 100, depending on the determined user data for the user who is inspecting the vehicle 100. As part of the showroom mode, for example, one or more of the following measures can be carried out:

• • Outputting audio and/or video data via an output unit of the vehicle 100; and
• • Operating one or more lighting elements 104 of the vehicle 100, for example to effect a specific interior lighting of the vehicle 100.

2 shows an exemplary video 202 that is played on a screen 201 of the vehicle 100. As part of the showroom mode, a video 202 can be played, which informs the user who is examining the vehicle 100 about a specific topic, for example about a specific function of the vehicle 100. The video 202 played on the screen 201 can be automatically selected depending on the user data determined. In this way, the quality of the representation of the vehicle 100 for the user can be increased.

The showroom mode (which can also be referred to as demo mode, exhibition mode or trade fair mode) can be used, for example, in the showroom of a vehicle dealer or at a trade fair. The vehicle 100 can demonstrate selected functions of the vehicle 100 while stationary. For example, different driving speeds and/or driving modes can be represented in the instrument cluster (i.e. in the instrument cluster) of the vehicle 100. A driving experience can therefore be simulated, for example by turning the speed pointer and/or by changing the color due to the change between different driving modes (e.g. from a sport mode (red) to an ECO mode (blue)). Furthermore, one or more displays of a driver assistance system can be simulated “in action” and reproduced in the instrument cluster. Furthermore, videos from the intelligent operating instructions (IBA) of the vehicle 100 can be played in the head unit (i.e. in the Central Information Display, CID), which explain individual functions of the vehicle 100.

As described in this document, the showroom mode can be personalized to the specific user who sits in the vehicle 100. In this context, a recommender algorithm can be used, which makes one or more recommendations for the respective user based on user data Design of the showroom mode determined. The user data can describe the previous user behavior of the respective user. Based on this user behavior, the recommender algorithm can determine a recommendation for user-specific adjustment of the showroom mode.

This can be based on the fact that many users who examine a vehicle 100 have already used a vehicle from the same manufacturer. The user data may include the user profile that the user used on another vehicle (possibly from the same manufacturer). The user profile can include the driver's individual settings and/or information (such as name, profile picture, preferred settings, navigation destination and/or preferred climate setting).

The user data can be used for user modeling. The user data may include profile data and/or behavioral patterns of the driver in the vehicle (e.g. navigation services, entertainment preferences). Furthermore, the user data may include a usage history of vehicles (which one or more vehicle models were used, which one or more special equipment were used, etc.). Furthermore, the user data can describe the user's digital user behavior, such as the use of an online portal or a smartphone app.

Based on the user data, a recommender algorithm can be used to play personalized videos 202 in showroom mode according to the user's preferences. For example, a user who has used vehicles with a third row of seats and/or children's entertainment in the past can be presented with the latest special features for children's entertainment and/or child safety. On the other hand, a user who has been interested in high-powered vehicles and/or motorsport special equipment in the past can primarily be presented with functions from this area, such as information about a “race mode”. The design of the vehicle 100 can also be adjusted (e.g. on the instrument cluster), for example to present the “Race Mode”.

3 shows a flowchart of an exemplary (possibly computer-implemented) method 300 for providing a showroom mode of an exhibited, stationary vehicle 100. The showroom mode can possibly be provided, in particular only if the vehicle 100 is not in one -ready for operation. For example, an electrical energy supply to the vehicle 100 can be provided by an energy source that is arranged outside the vehicle 100. For example, it may be necessary for the vehicle 100 to be connected to a power grid and/or to an external battery to provide the showroom mode. Alternatively or additionally, the drive motor (in particular the internal combustion engine) can be deactivated when the showroom mode is provided. If necessary, the showroom mode can only be provided if the drive motor (in particular if all drive motors) of the vehicle 100 is (are) deactivated.

The method 300 includes determining 301 user data relating to a user who inspects the exhibited vehicle 100 (at a specific point in time). For example, it can be recognized (based on a surrounding camera and/or based on the communication unit 102 of the vehicle 100) that the vehicle 100 is being inspected by a specific user (e.g. that the specific user has sat down in the interior of the vehicle 100). The identity of the user can be determined, for example based on image recognition and/or based on the identifier of the user's user device.

In response, user data relating to the specific user may be requested and/or downloaded from a vehicle-external unit 110 (e.g. from a server and/or from the user's user device) via a communication link 111. For this purpose, the determined identity of the user can be sent to the vehicle-external unit 110. In response, the (stored) user data can be made available to this user.

The method 300 further includes adjusting and/or setting 302 the showroom mode of the vehicle 100 (at the specific time) depending on the user data. In particular, the information provided in the showroom mode and/or the acoustic and/or optical design of the vehicle 100 can be set and/or adjusted depending on the user data.

The aspects described in this document efficiently increase the quality with which a vehicle 100 can be displayed. In this way, a user can be supported in selecting a vehicle model in a comfortable and precise manner.

The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and the figures are only examples of the principle of the above are intended to illustrate the proposed methods, devices and systems.

Claims (10)

Device (101) for providing a showroom mode of an exhibited, stationary vehicle (100), the device (101) being set up, - to determine user data relating to a user who inspects the exhibited vehicle (100); and - adapt and/or set the showroom mode of the vehicle (100) depending on the user data. Device (101) according to Claim 1 , wherein the device (101) is set up to - as part of the showroom mode, reproduce an audio and / or video signal (202) via an output unit (201) of the vehicle (100) while the user inspects the vehicle (100); and - select the audio and/or video signal (201), in particular a topic of the audio and/or video signal (201), from a set of predefined audio and/or video signals (201) depending on the user data. Device (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (101) is set up - as part of the showroom mode, to operate a lighting unit (104) of the vehicle (100) to emit light while the user inspects the vehicle (100); and - to set and/or adapt the light emitted by the lighting unit (104), in particular a color and/or an intensity of the light, depending on the user data. Device (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (101) is set up - to generate a synthetic driving noise as part of the showroom mode while the user inspects the vehicle (100); and - Generate and/or adapt the synthetic driving noise depending on the user data. Device (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (101) is set up to set interior lighting and/or a design of an information display, in particular an instrument cluster, of the vehicle (100) as part of the showroom mode depending on the user data while the user examines the vehicle (100). Device (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (101) is set up to display a driving situation on a user interface (103) and/or on one or more output elements (201) of the vehicle (100) as part of the showroom mode To simulate dependence on the user data while the user inspects the vehicle (100). Device (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the user data comprises, - Data relating to one or more vehicle settings, in particular relating to a driving mode, that the user uses in another vehicle; - Data relating to the user's driving behavior when using another vehicle; - data relating to one or more navigation destinations of the user in a navigation system of another vehicle; - data relating to a user profile of the user in another vehicle; - Data relating to one or more vehicle models and/or one or more optional equipment that the user has used in the past; - Data relating to the user's age, gender, family situation, profession and/or interests; - Data relating to a user's search history on an Internet search engine; and or - Data relating to a user's browsing history in an Internet browser. Device (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (101) is set up to receive user data via a communication connection (111), in particular via a wireless communication connection (111), from a vehicle-external unit (110), in particular from a server and/or from a user device of the user. Device (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (101) is set up - create a user model based on the user data; and - adapt and/or set the showroom mode based on the user's user model, in particular using a recommender algorithm. Method (300) for providing a showroom mode of an exhibited, stationary vehicle (100), the method (300) comprising - determining (301) user data relating to a user who has the exhibited vehicle (100) appraised; and - adjusting and/or setting (302) the showroom mode of the vehicle (100) depending on the user data.

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