FR3110131A1 - Method of controlling passenger compartment equipment and associated devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling equipment (15) in the passenger compartment (12) of a vehicle (10) comprising: - a step of obtaining a location of a vehicle (10) in the environment of the vehicle (10), - a step of selecting a content from among a plurality of contents as a function of each location obtained, to obtain a selected content, each content comprising a set of questions, - a first step of generating a command signal for an item of equipment (15) in the passenger compartment (12) according to a selected content, - a step of collecting a reaction from at least a passenger of the vehicle (10) to the content, and - a second step of generating a control signal for at least one item of equipment (15) in the passenger compartment (12) as a function of a collected reaction and possibly of selected content. Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Method for controlling equipment in a passenger compartment and associated devices

The present invention relates to a method for controlling equipment in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The present invention also relates to associated devices, namely a control device, a vehicle, a computer program product and an associated readable information carrier.

To entertain a passenger in a vehicle, such as an automobile or an aircraft, an entertainment system is often used comprising in particular screens or loudspeakers. The entertainment system is thus capable of broadcasting a video, music or even allowing the passenger to play a video game.

However, due to the limited number of the type of services offered and in particular if the journey is long, the entertainment system is insufficient to entertain the passenger.

It is known to increase the immersion of the user by adding additional equipment such as a disco ball or a vibrating tablet. The entertainment system is then able to operate additional equipment simultaneously with the broadcast of a video, which makes the video more attractive.

However, the entertainment systems thus obtained are bulky.

There is a need for a device that is less bulky and that makes it possible to increase the immersion of the passenger.

To this end, the description describes a method for controlling equipment in a vehicle interior, the vehicle being capable of moving in an environment, the method being implemented after receipt of an activation by an occupant of the vehicle and comprising a step of obtaining at least one location of a vehicle in the environment of the vehicle, a step of selecting at least one content from among a plurality of contents as a function of each location obtained, to obtain at least one selected content, each content comprising a set of questions, a first step of generating a control signal for at least one item of equipment in the passenger compartment as a function of at least one selected content, a step of collecting at least a reaction of at least one passenger of the vehicle to the content, and a second step of generating a control signal for at least one item of equipment in the cabin as a function of at least one reaction collected and optionally of at least A selected content.

According to particular embodiments, the control method has one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in all technically possible combinations:

• during the obtaining step, the at least one location includes at least one of the current location and the location within a predefined time interval.
• the step of obtaining comprises the measurement of the current position of the vehicle.
• the vehicle follows a trajectory in the environment and the step of obtaining comprises predicting the trajectory of the vehicle.
• the equipment is chosen from the list consisting of a seat, lighting, a dashboard, a ventilation system, a screen and a loudspeaker.
• at least one content further comprises a system for counting the correct answers to the set of questions.

The present description also proposes a device for controlling equipment in a vehicle interior, the vehicle being suitable for moving in an environment, the control device being, after receipt of an activation by an occupant of the vehicle, suitable for obtaining at least one location of a vehicle in the environment, selecting at least one content from among a plurality of contents as a function of each location obtained, to obtain at least one selected content, each content comprising a set of questions, generating a signal for controlling at least one item of equipment in the passenger compartment as a function of at least one selected content, collecting at least one reaction of at least one passenger of the vehicle to the content, and generating a control signal for at least one item of equipment of the passenger compartment as a function of at least one collected reaction and optionally of at least one selected content.

The present description also relates to a vehicle comprising a passenger compartment comprising a plurality of equipment items and an equipment control device, the control device being as previously described.

The present description also describes a computer program product comprising a readable information medium, on which is stored a computer program comprising program instructions, the computer program being loadable on a data processing unit and putting implements at least the steps of selecting and generating a method for checking equipment in a vehicle interior as previously described when the computer program is implemented on the data processing unit.

The present description also proposes a readable information medium comprising program instructions forming a computer program, the computer program being loadable on a data processing unit and implementing at least the steps of selection and generation of a method for controlling equipment in a vehicle interior as previously described when the computer program is implemented on the data processing unit.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings which are:

- Figure 1, a schematic view of an example of a vehicle, and

- Figure 2, a flowchart of an example of implementation of a method for checking equipment of the vehicle of Figure 1.

A transport vehicle 10, simply called vehicle 10 in what follows, is shown in Figure 1.

The vehicle 10 is, for example, a motor vehicle, or alternatively, an aircraft, or any other type of vehicle transporting passengers, such as a car, a bus, a train, an airplane, or a truck. .

The vehicle 10 is able to move in an environment.

It should be noted that, in the present description, the expression “specific to” means “suitable for”, “suitable for” or “configured for” without distinction.

The vehicle 10 comprises a cabin 12 comprising a plurality of equipment 15 and a control device 20.

Equipment 15 of the passenger compartment 12 is understood to mean any equipment of the passenger compartment 12 that can be controlled electronically.

According to the proposed example, each item of equipment 15 is either an actuator of the passenger compartment 12 or a terminal.

For example, when equipment 15 is an actuator, equipment 15 is chosen from the list consisting of a seat, lighting, a dashboard and a ventilation system.

When equipment 15 is a terminal, equipment 15 is chosen from the list consisting of a screen or a loudspeaker.

The control device 20 is suitable for controlling the equipment 15.

The control device is suitable for controlling the equipment 15 by implementing a method for controlling equipment 15 of a passenger compartment 12 of the vehicle 20.

The control device 20 comprises an obtaining unit 24, a selection unit 26, a first generation unit 28, a collection unit 30 and a second generation unit 32.

As a specific example, the control device 20 includes a single-core or multi-core processor (such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a microcontroller, and a digital signal processor (DSP). )), programmable logic circuit (such as application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field -programmable gate array (FPGA), programmable logic device (PLD), and programmable logic arrays (PLA)), machine logic gate and discrete hardware components.

For example, the control device 20 is implemented as a computer program product and includes a memory and a processor associated with the memory, not shown. The obtaining unit 24, the selection unit 26, the first generation unit 28, the collection unit 30 and the second generation unit 32 are then each implemented in the form of software, or a software brick, executable by the processor. The memory is then capable of memorizing software for obtaining at least one location of a vehicle, software for selecting at least one content, first software for generating a control signal, software for collecting of the at least one reaction of at least one passenger and a second software for generating a control signal.

When the control device 20 is made in the form of a computer program product, it is, moreover, capable of being recorded on a support, not shown, readable by computer. The computer-readable medium is, for example, a medium capable of storing electronic instructions and of being coupled to a bus of a computer system.

By way of example, the readable information medium is a diskette or floppy disk (from the English name " floppy disk "), an optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM memory, a RAM memory, an EPROM memory, an EEPROM memory, a magnetic card or an optical card.

In such a case, the control method implemented by the control device 20 is a computer-implemented method.

The operation of the control device 20 and, more precisely of the obtaining unit 24, of the selection unit 26, of the first generation unit 28, of the collection unit 30 and of the second generation unit 32, is now described with reference to FIG. 2 which illustrates an example of implementation of the method for controlling equipment 15 of the passenger compartment 12 of the vehicle 20.

The method is implemented after receiving an activation by an occupant of the vehicle 10.

For example, the occupant will press, for example, a button (physical or tactile) of the on/off type and pressing this button constitutes an activation. Alternatively, the activation is done by a voice or gesture command.

It should be noted that the occupant carrying out the activation is not necessarily the passenger who will benefit from the service (case for example of a young child).

This ensures that the control process is only implemented when it is useful.

The control method comprises a step of obtaining E50, a step of selection E52, a first step of generation E54, a step of collection E56 and a step of second generation E58.

During the obtaining step E50, the control device 20 obtains at least one location of the vehicle 10 in the environment of the vehicle 10.

In the proposed example, it is the obtaining unit 24 which obtains the at least one location of the vehicle 10.

According to the proposed example, the at least one location obtained includes the current location and the location within a predefined time interval.

Alternatively, only one of the two previous locations is obtained during the obtaining step E50.

By “location” in this context, it is understood both a geographical position as well as belonging to a predefined geographical area.

A geographical position is identified, for example, by geographical coordinates of the longitude or latitude type.

By way of example, the predefined geographical area is a city or a region and the localization consists of determining in which city or in which region the vehicle is currently located or in the predefined time interval.

In the proposed example, the step for obtaining E50 comprises the measurement of the current position of the vehicle 10.

The measurement is, for example, carried out using a positioning system. A GPS system is an example of a positioning system, the abbreviation GPS referring to the English name of “Global Positioning System” literally meaning global positioning system.

Alternatively, the control device 20 receives the measurement made from a positioning system.

According to another variant, the control device 20 receives from elements of the environment information relating to the city crossed, for example, by use of a light communication with an external beacon.

According to yet another variant, the passenger enters, for example on a touch screen, the region traversed by the vehicle 10.

The location in a predefined time interval is the future location of vehicle 10.

According to the proposed example, the predefined time interval is fixed and corresponds, for example, to a duration of 30 minutes.

Alternatively, the predefined time interval is variable and depends, for example, on the total duration of the journey envisaged. For example, for a 5-hour journey, a duration of 1 hour may be retained insofar as this corresponds to 20% of the journey.

According to another variant, the predefined time interval depends on the age of the passengers of the vehicle 10.

In the present method, it is assumed that the vehicle 10 follows a trajectory in the environment.

Also, to determine the future location, the obtaining step E50 includes the prediction of the trajectory of the vehicle 10.

The prediction is, for example, implemented by using the previous positions of the vehicle 10.

Alternatively, the prediction is implemented using the current position of vehicle 10 and the final destination of vehicle 10.

Such data is, for example, available in the vehicle navigation system 10.

The obtaining unit 24 then determines using the trajectory the position or the zone which will be reached at the end of the predefined time interval.

The obtaining unit 24 thus obtains the future location of the vehicle 10.

At the end of the obtaining step E50, the current location and the future location of the vehicle 10 are thus obtained.

During the selection step E52, the control device 20 selects at least one content from among a plurality of contents according to each location obtained, to obtain at least one selected content.

More precisely, in the example described, it is the selection unit 26 which selects at least one content.

In the example described, the contents are a set of questions, in particular organized in the form of a quiz.

According to a particular case, the content comprises, in addition to the set of questions, a system for counting the correct answers to the set of questions.

Such an account system can be a system giving the score of one or more passengers or for teams.

This will help maintain interest in the content.

In the present method, it is assumed that each content is associated with a geographical area.

For example, the sets of questions relate to the geographical area or the recorded radio program is about the geographical area.

The selection unit 26 then selects the content according to the geographical area associated with the vehicle 10.

The selection unit 26 determines the geographical area associated with the vehicle 10 using the current location and the future location.

Several cases can be considered.

If the current location and the future location are obtained in the form of the same region, the selection unit 26 selects content relating to said region.

When more than one content relates to the region, the selection unit 26 selects an example content at random.

Alternatively, the content is selected taking into account the preferences of the passenger. Preferences concern, for example, content of a specific type (multiple-choice questions), a specific difficulty (easy quiz for example) or a given theme (history of the region or gastronomy of the region).

Such passenger preferences can be obtained using an automatic dynamic profile (based for example on the passenger's previous content choices) or be parameters manually entered by the occupant during activation.

If the current location and the future location are obtained as two regions, the selection unit 26 selects content relating to the two regions.

Alternatively, the selection unit 26 favors content relating to a specific region. For example, the specific region is the region that will be reached by the vehicle 10 at the end of the predetermined time interval or the region in which the vehicle 10 will spend the most time during the predetermined time interval.

According to a more elaborate variant, the contents are also associated with zones having a size smaller than the regions (city for example) and the selection unit 26 selects the contents whose zones of smaller size are at a distance less than a threshold distance of the predicted trajectory. For example, if the trajectory followed is along a highway, any city located less than 40 kilometers from the highway is a smaller area whose content can be selected.

If the current location and the future location are obtained in the form of a geographical position, it is possible to return to the previous cases by situating the geographical positions in relation to predefined zones (with which the contents to be selected are associated).

Such a step of linking geographical positions with predefined zones is, for example, implemented by the selection unit 26.

At the end of the selection step E52, at least one content is thus selected.

During the first generation step E54, the control device 20 generates a control signal for at least one item of equipment 15 of the passenger compartment 12 as a function of the content(s) selected.

In the example given, it is the first generation unit 28 which generates the control signal.

The control signal generated within the framework of the method described is a signal for transmitting the content intended for the equipment 15 which are terminals.

For example, for a question involving a video, the first generation unit 28 sends a command signal for the screen to play the video.

Similarly, for a question involving music, the first generation unit 28 sends a command signal for the speakers to play the selected music.

In such an example, the control signal is generated as a function of the nature of the content and more specifically of the terminal suitable for transmitting the selected content.

According to more elaborate examples, the first generation unit 28 generates a control signal for other equipment 15, such as actuators.

By way of illustration, if the music contained in the question is soothing music, the control signal follows a control law in which the intensity of the lighting is reduced, for example gradually, and the loudspeakers broadcast the soothing music. This helps the passenger to fall asleep gently.

At the end of the first generation stage E54, the content was thus transmitted to at least one passenger of vehicle 10.

During the collection step E56, the control device 20 collects at least one reaction of at least one passenger of the vehicle 10 to the content.

More precisely, in the example described, it is the collection unit 30 which collects the reactions of the passengers.

By way of illustration, the response of the passenger(s) is collected, for example by obtaining the audio signal recorded by a microphone.

According to more elaborate examples, an image from a camera filming the passenger or a signal for detecting the movements of the passenger from a seat are collected during the collection step E56.

According to yet another example, the response of the passenger(s) is collected by obtaining the electrical signal corresponding to pressing (or not) on part of a touch screen.

In each of the examples, it is a measurement signal from a sensor that is collected.

Depending on the case, the collection unit 30 is also capable of converting the received signal.

For example, the collection unit 30 implements a voice recognition technique on the audio signal, which makes it possible to know the passenger's answer to the question asked.

Regarding the detection signal, the collection unit 30 also implements a comparison of the amplitude of the detection signal to determine if a movement is taking place, for example because the music broadcast is catchy.

According to another example, the collection unit 30 uses one or more images of the reaction of the passengers to carry out motion recognition. For example, it may be recognized that the passenger raises his hand or smiles, which indicates that he appreciates such or such content. In such an example, techniques for detecting human posture or facial expressions may be used.

Alternatively, the conversion is implemented by the second generation unit 32 at the second generation step E58 which is now described.

During the second generation step E58, the control device 20 generates a control signal for at least one item of equipment 15 of the passenger compartment 12 according to at least one collected reaction.

In the proposed example, it is the second generation unit 32 which generates the control signal.

By way of illustration, for the case of a content which is a set of questions, the second generation unit 32 determines whether the passenger's answer is correct or not and sends a different control signal depending on the case.

For example, a red light is diffused in the event of a wrong answer while a green light is diffused in the event of a correct answer.

Thus, the control signal sent by the second generation unit 32 is either to emit red light or to emit green light.

According to another example, a vibration of the seat takes place when the response is bad.

Thus, the control signal sent by the second generation unit 32 to the passenger seat is either to remain stationary or to vibrate.

More generally, the second generation unit 32 sends a command signal to an actuator such as a seat, lighting, a dashboard or a ventilation system.

According to a variant or in addition, visual or sound effects are implemented on one or more terminals.

For example, going back to the previous example, a distinct specific sound signal is emitted depending on the nature of the response.

According to a more elaborate variant, the control signal also depends on the selected content.

For example, a sound effect is preferred if the content is video and conversely, a visual effect is preferred if the content is audio.

More specifically, the control signal can be used to increase immersion when delivering this content, through lights, music equalization, seat movements, fragrance delivery, an adjustment of the ventilation or temperature, or any other actuator.

The method therefore makes it possible to broadcast content linked to the location of the vehicle 10. This makes it possible to increase the immersion and therefore the entertainment of the passenger, the passenger then being invited to consider the environment of the vehicle 10, which makes the journey more pleasant and shorter.

Furthermore, the method is easy to implement and fast.

The method does not require any modification vis-à-vis the vehicle and is adaptable to all types of vehicles.

Furthermore, the elements involved in the control method are not bulky since the elements are already present in the vehicle 10. In particular, no additional equipment 15 is added.

Claims (10)

Method for controlling equipment (15) of a passenger compartment (12) of a vehicle (10), the vehicle (10) being capable of moving in an environment, the method being implemented after receipt of an activation by a occupant of the vehicle (10) and comprising:
- a step of obtaining at least one location of a vehicle (10) in the environment of the vehicle (10),
- a step of selecting at least one content from among a plurality of contents according to each location obtained, to obtain at least one selected content, each content comprising a set of questions,
- a first step of generating a control signal for at least one item of equipment (15) in the passenger compartment (12) according to at least one selected content,
- a step of collecting at least one reaction of at least one passenger of the vehicle (10) to the content, and
- a second step of generating a control signal for at least one item of equipment (15) of the passenger compartment (12) as a function of at least one reaction collected and possibly of at least one selected content. A monitoring method according to claim 1, wherein, in the step of obtaining, the at least one location includes at least one of the current location and the location within a predefined time interval. A monitoring method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of obtaining comprises measuring the current position of the vehicle (10). A control method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vehicle (10) follows a trajectory in the environment and the step of obtaining comprises predicting the trajectory of the vehicle (10). Control method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the equipment (15) is chosen from the list consisting of a seat, lighting, a dashboard, a ventilation system , a screen and a loudspeaker. Control method according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which at least one content further comprises a system for counting the correct answers to the set of questions. Device (20) for monitoring equipment (15) in the passenger compartment (12) of a vehicle (10), the vehicle (10) being capable of moving in an environment, the monitoring device (20) being, after reception an activation by an occupant of the vehicle (10), suitable for:
- obtaining at least one location of a vehicle (10) in the environment,
- select at least one content from among a plurality of contents according to each location obtained, to obtain at least one selected content, each content comprising a set of questions,
- generating a control signal for at least one item of equipment (15) in the passenger compartment (12) according to at least one selected content,
- collecting at least one reaction of at least one passenger of the vehicle (10) to the content, and
- generating a control signal for at least one item of equipment (15) in the passenger compartment (12) as a function of at least one collected reaction and possibly of at least one selected content. Vehicle (10) comprising a passenger compartment (12) comprising a plurality of equipment (15) and a control device (10) for the equipment (15), the control device (20) being according to claim 7. Computer program product comprising a readable information medium, on which is stored a computer program comprising program instructions, the computer program being loadable on a data processing unit and implementing at least the steps for selecting and generating a method for checking equipment in a vehicle interior according to any one of claims 1 to 6 when the computer program is implemented on the data processing unit. Readable information medium comprising program instructions forming a computer program, the computer program being loadable on a data processing unit and implementing at least the steps of selecting and generating a control method for Equipment of a vehicle interior according to any one of claims 1 to 6 when the computer program is implemented on the data processing unit.