FR3137844A1 - Method and device for implementing an interactive vehicle entertainment service - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for controlling an interactive entertainment service (SV1) for a vehicle (4), implemented by a control unit (20) cooperating with a device (10) on board the vehicle (4), said method comprising: receiving, from the device (10), vehicle data (DT1) representative of an environment (2) of the vehicle; determination of context data (DT2) from vehicle data (DT1); generating, from the vehicle data (DT1) and the context data (DT2), an interactive entertainment platform (PT1) comprising a virtual image (32) of the vehicle (4); and transmission, to the device (10), of interactive data (DT3) representative of the interactive entertainment platform (PT1) to cause the restitution of said platform by a user interface (30) on board said vehicle. Figure for abstract: Figure 1

Description

Method and device for implementing an interactive vehicle entertainment service

The present invention relates to vehicle entertainment methods and devices, in particular systems implementing interactive services such as video games or others for vehicle passengers. The invention aims in particular to implement an interactive entertainment platform to entertain vehicle passengers.

Technology background

Various solutions exist today to entertain vehicle passengers, such as multimedia systems designed to reproduce multimedia content or even video game systems. Such systems are supposed to help vehicle passengers combat boredom during long journeys.

However, current entertainment systems for vehicles, for example for motor vehicles, offer services that are still very limited, not very immersive and which tend to isolate users, which does not always make it possible to effectively combat boredom.

Summary of the present invention

One of the objects of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems or deficiencies of the technological background described above.

Another object of the present invention is to effectively entertain the passengers of a vehicle by implementing an interactive entertainment platform offering interactive services in an immersive environment.

Another object of the present invention is to allow better interaction between passengers of the same vehicle or between passengers of several different vehicles.

According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling an interactive entertainment service for a vehicle, said method being implemented by a control unit cooperating with an interactive entertainment device on board the vehicle, said method comprising :
- reception, from the interactive entertainment device, of vehicle data representative of an environment in which the vehicle is operating;
- determination of context data, comprising information associated with the environment of the vehicle, by consulting a database from the vehicle data;
- generation, from the vehicle data and the context data, of an interactive entertainment platform comprising a virtual image of the vehicle circulating in a virtual environment corresponding to the vehicle data and the context data; And
- transmission, to the interactive entertainment device, of interactive data representative of the interactive entertainment platform to cause the restitution of said platform by a user interface embedded in said vehicle.

According to a particular embodiment, the vehicle data comprises location data, representative of a position and/or movement of the vehicle, generated by at least one position and/or movement sensor on board the vehicle.

According to a particular embodiment, the vehicle data comprises detection data, representative of at least one traffic sign detected in the environment of the vehicle, generated by at least one object sensor on board the vehicle.

According to a particular embodiment, the interactive entertainment platform comprises a video game making the virtual image of the vehicle, the virtual environment and at least one user of said vehicle interact via the user interface.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a control method

of an interactive entertainment service for a vehicle, said method being implemented by a control system comprising:
- a control unit implementing a method according to the first aspect of the invention; And
- an interactive entertainment device, embedded in the vehicle, cooperating with the control unit to implement said interactive entertainment service.

According to a particular embodiment, the interactive entertainment device renders the interactive entertainment platform by means of a user interface embedded in the vehicle, by 3D holographic projection or by display on at least one screen.

According to a particular embodiment, the interactive entertainment device:
- obtains multimedia content using the user interface; And
- transmits the multimedia content, via a communications network, to a second interactive entertainment device of another vehicle in order to share the multimedia content with another user.

According to a particular embodiment, the entertainment device:
- obtains multimedia content acquired using the user interface; And
- restores multimedia content by 3D holographic projection on a surface of the vehicle.
According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a control unit for the implementation of an interactive entertainment service for a vehicle, said control unit comprising at least one memory associated with at least one processor configured for the implementation steps of the process according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a control system for the implementation of an interactive entertainment service for a vehicle, said control system comprising at least one memory associated with at least one processor configured for the implementation steps of the method according to the second aspect of the invention.

Note that the different embodiments mentioned above in relation to the control methods according to the first and second aspects of the invention as well as the associated advantages apply analogously to the control unit and to the control system. control according to the third and fourth aspects of the invention.

According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automobile type or of the land motor vehicle type, comprising an interactive entertainment device according to the second aspect of the present invention.

According to a sixth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for the execution of the steps of the control method according to at least one of the first and second aspects of the present invention, this in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor. In other words, the different stages of the control method according to the first and/or second aspect of the invention are determined by computer program instructions. This computer program is configured to be implemented in a control unit according to the third aspect of the invention or in a control system according to the fourth aspect of the invention, or more generally in at least one computer.

Such a computer program can use any programming language, and be in the form of a source code, an object code, or an intermediate code between a source code and an object code, such as in partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

According to a seventh aspect, the present invention relates to a recording medium (or information medium), readable by the control unit according to the third aspect or by the control system according to the fourth aspect, or more generally by at least a computer (or at least one processor), on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for executing the steps of the control method according to the first and/or second aspects of the present invention.

On the one hand, the recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a ROM memory of the microelectronic circuit type, or even a magnetic recording means or a hard disk.

On the other hand, this recording medium can also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or terrestrial radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other ways. The computer program according to the present invention can in particular be downloaded onto an Internet type network.

Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in executing the method in question.

As described in more detail below, the present invention makes it possible to offer an immersive digital entertainment activity to one or more passengers of a vehicle, in particular to effectively combat boredom and improve the user experience during a journey in the vehicle. To do this, the interactive entertainment platform, also known as a digital platform (or digital platform), can offer interactive digital services to the passenger(s), these services which may in particular include video games, multiple online services, recommendations , courier service, virtual site visits, etc. This platform may in particular be of the metaverse type, offering access to an interactive virtual environment, via an appropriate user interface.

The immersive nature of the experience is increased by the implementation of a virtual image of the vehicle circulating (or moving) in a relevant virtual environment, namely an environment generated from the real situation of the vehicle at a current moment ( thanks in particular to vehicle data and context data collected by the device of the invention). Thus, the virtual environment in which the virtual image of the vehicle evolves is consistent with the vehicle data and the context data obtained for the vehicle in question.

The present invention makes it possible to promote communication (or interaction) between different passengers of the same vehicle through the digital platform, for example by allowing multi-player interactions in the context of a video game. The invention can also allow different users located in different vehicles, for example members of the same group (family, network of friends, etc.), to interact together via the digital platform, in order to further increase user interactions. As indicated below, it is notably possible to share multimedia content between users of different vehicles, by transmission of the content or by restitution of the content by various means.

Brief description of the figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the particular and non-limiting examples of embodiment of the present invention below, with reference to Figures 1 to 6 appended, in which:

schematically illustrates a system comprising a control unit and an interactive entertainment device embedded in a vehicle, according to at least one particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates the passenger compartment of the vehicle of the , according to at least one particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates an interactive entertainment platform implemented by the system of , according to at least one particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates a control unit, according to at least one particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates an interactive entertainment device, according to at least one particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

illustrates a diagram of different stages of first and second control methods implemented respectively by a control unit and an interactive entertainment device, according to at least one particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the implementation examples

As stated previously, current in-vehicle entertainment solutions are unsatisfactory. The invention aims to reinforce interactivity between passengers of the same vehicle, or of several vehicles, and to offer more interactive and more immersive entertainment services, in order to enrich the journey of passengers on board a vehicle. and effectively combat boredom. The invention also aims to enrich a journey with more personalized services.

To do this, the invention relates in particular to a method for controlling an interactive entertainment service for a vehicle, such as an automobile or other type vehicle, or more generally a motorized land vehicle type vehicle. The invention aims in particular, but not exclusively, at a solution allowing access by a vehicle passenger to an interactive virtual environment, such as a metaverse type environment (or “metaverse” in English) for example.

As described below, this interactive entertainment service can be implemented by two distinct entities cooperating together, namely by an interactive entertainment device embedded in a vehicle and a remote control unit of said vehicle. The interactive entertainment device and the control unit collectively form a control system. According to a particular example, the control system is entirely embedded in the vehicle.

According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment, the invention aims at a first method of controlling an interactive entertainment service for a vehicle, implemented by a control unit cooperating with an interactive entertainment device on board the vehicle, said method comprising:
- reception, from the interactive entertainment device, of vehicle data representative of an environment in which the vehicle is operating;
- determination of context data, comprising information associated with the environment of the vehicle, by consulting a database from the vehicle data;
- generation, from the vehicle data and the context data, of an interactive entertainment platform comprising a virtual image (32) of the vehicle circulating in a virtual environment corresponding to the vehicle data and the context data; And
- transmission, to the interactive entertainment device, of interactive data representative of the interactive entertainment platform to cause the restitution of said platform by a user interface embedded in said vehicle

According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment, the invention aims at a second method of controlling an interactive entertainment service for a vehicle, implemented by a control system comprising:
- a control unit implementing the first process defined above; And
- an interactive entertainment device, embedded in the vehicle, cooperating with the control unit to implement the interactive entertainment service

The present invention makes it possible to offer an immersive digital entertainment activity to one or more passengers of a vehicle, in particular in order to effectively combat boredom and improve the user experience during a journey in the vehicle. To do this, an interactive entertainment platform, also called a digital platform (or digital platform), offers interactive digital services to the passenger(s), these services may in particular include video games, multiple online services, recommendations, courier service, virtual site tours, etc. This platform may in particular be of the metaverse type, offering access to an interactive virtual environment, via an appropriate user interface.

The immersive nature of the experience is increased by the implementation of a virtual image of the vehicle circulating (or moving) in a relevant virtual environment, namely an environment generated from the real situation of the vehicle at a current moment ( thanks in particular to vehicle data and context data collected by the device of the invention). Thus, the virtual environment in which the virtual image of the vehicle evolves is consistent with the vehicle data and the context data obtained for the vehicle in question.

The present invention makes it possible to promote communication (or interaction) between different passengers of the same vehicle through the digital platform, for example by allowing multi-player interactions in the context of a video game. The invention can also allow different users located in different vehicles, for example members of the same group (family, network of friends, etc.), to interact together via the digital platform, in order to further increase user interactions. As indicated below, it is in particular possible to share multimedia content between users of different vehicles, by transmission of the content or by restitution of the content by various means, including for example a 3D holographic projection technique on a surface (internal and/or or external) of the vehicle in question.

The present invention can also make it possible to offer, via the interactive entertainment platform, relevant services linked to the real environment of the vehicle, so as to enrich the journey of the user(s). As indicated below, these services may include various recommendations, multimedia content, etc.

Methods and devices of the invention will now be described in the following with reference jointly to Figures 1-6. Unless otherwise indicated, elements common or similar to several figures bear the same reference signs and have identical or similar characteristics, so that these common elements are generally not described again for the sake of simplicity.

The terms “first(s)” (or first(s)), “second(s)”, etc.) are used in this document by arbitrary convention to help identify and distinguish different elements (such as operations, threshold values, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below.

There schematically illustrates a control system (or "system") SY1 comprising a control unit (or control station, or control device) 20 as well as an interactive entertainment device 10 (also called more simply "device") embedded in a vehicle 4, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 20, positioned remotely from the vehicle 4, is configured to cooperate with the device 10 to implement an interactive entertainment service SV1 for the vehicle 4, or more particularly for at least one passenger of the vehicle 4.

More specifically, the vehicle 4 carrying the interactive entertainment device 10 operates in an environment 2 which can vary depending on the case. For example, we assume that vehicle 4 is traveling on a traffic lane. This could be a section of road or any other suitable environment. Note that vehicle 4 can be moving or possibly stationary depending on the case. Other vehicles such as vehicle 6, carrying an interactive entertainment device similar to device 10, can possibly also circulate on this traffic lane or, remotely, outside this environment 2.

As illustrated in , the environment 2 of the vehicle 4 may possibly include at least one road sign 14 and/or at least one site of interest 16 (place of worship, castle, monument, town, region, etc.).

The type and characteristics of vehicle 4 (and possibly vehicle 6) can be adapted as appropriate. The vehicle 4 is for example of automobile type or equivalent. Alternatively, this vehicle can be a coach, a bus, a truck, a utility vehicle or a motorcycle, or more generally a vehicle of the motorized land vehicle type.

According to a particular example, the first vehicle 4 travels under the total supervision of a driver.

According to a particular example, the first vehicle 4 circulates in an autonomous or semi-autonomous mode. In other words, the first vehicle 4 can be an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle.

More particularly, the vehicle 4 can circulate according to a level of autonomy equal to 0 or according to a level of autonomy ranging from 1 to 5 for example, according to the scale defined by the American federal agency which has established 5 levels of autonomy. autonomy ranging from 1 to 5. Level 0 corresponds to a vehicle having no autonomy, the driving of which is under the total supervision of the driver; level 1 corresponding to a vehicle with a minimum level of autonomy, whose driving is under the supervision of the driver with minimal assistance from an ADAS system (from the English “Advanced Driver-Assistance System” or in French “System advanced driving assistance"); and level 5 corresponding to a completely autonomous vehicle.

The 5 levels of autonomy in the classification of the federal agency responsible for road safety are:

- level 0: no automation, the vehicle driver has full control over the main functions of the vehicle (engine, accelerator, steering, brakes);

- level 1: driver assistance, automation is active for certain vehicle functions, the driver maintaining overall control over vehicle driving; cruise control is part of this level, like other aids such as ABS (anti-lock braking system) or ESP (programmed electro-stabilizer);

- level 2: automation of combined functions, the control of at least two main functions is combined in the automation to replace the driver in certain situations; for example, adaptive cruise control combined with lane centering allows a vehicle to be classified level 2, as does automatic parking assistance;

- level 3: limited autonomous driving, the driver can cede complete control of the vehicle to the automated system which will then be in charge of critical safety functions; however, autonomous driving can only take place in certain specific environmental and traffic conditions (only on motorways for example);

- level 4: complete autonomous driving under conditions, the vehicle is designed to ensure all critical safety functions alone over a complete journey; the driver provides a destination or navigation instructions but is not required to make himself available to regain control of the vehicle;

- level 5: completely autonomous driving without driver assistance in all circumstances.

The first vehicle 4 can be configured according to any of the autonomy levels mentioned above.

As shown in , the vehicle 4 comprises at least one on-board sensor 12 configured to generate vehicle data (or environment data) DT1 representative of the environment 2, that is to say the real environment in which the vehicle operates 4. The nature of this DT1 vehicle data may vary depending on the type of sensor 12 used. As described in more detail below, the vehicle data DT1 may include location data (of the GPS type for example) of the vehicle 4 and/or detection data representative of at least one traffic sign detected in the environment 2 of vehicle 4.

According to a particular example, the first vehicle 10 carries for example one or more of the following sensors 12:

- one or more millimeter wave radars arranged on the vehicle 4, for example at the front, at the rear, on each front/rear corner of the vehicle; each radar is adapted to emit electromagnetic waves and to receive the echoes of these waves returned by one or more objects, with the aim of detecting elements of the environment and their distances from the vehicle 4; and or

- one or more LIDAR(s) (from the English “Light Detection And Ranging”, or “Detection and estimation of the distance by light” in French), a LIDAR sensor corresponding to an optoelectronic system composed of a transmitter device laser, a receiving device comprising a light collector (to collect the part of the light radiation emitted by the transmitter and reflected by any object located in the path of the light rays emitted by the transmitter) and a photodetector which transforms light collected as an electrical signal; a LIDAR sensor thus makes it possible to detect the presence of objects located in the emitted light beam and to measure the distance between the sensor and each detected object; and or

- one or more cameras for acquiring one or more images of the environment 2 around the vehicle 4 located in the field of vision of the camera(s).

If a sensor 12 used is a radar or LIDAR for example, the vehicle data DT1 can thus include distance data between points of the detected object and the sensor. Each detected object can thus be represented by a cloud of points (each point corresponding to a point on the object receiving the radiation emitted by the sensor and reflecting at least in part this radiation), the cloud of points representing the envelope (or part of the envelope) of the object detected as seen by the sensor and ultimately by the vehicle 4 carrying the sensor(s) 12.

If a sensor 12 used is a video camera for example, the vehicle data DT1 may include image data associated with each pixel of the acquired image(s), for example gray level values coded on for example 8, 10 , 12 or more bits for each color channel, for example RGB (from English “Red, Green, Blue” or in French “Rouge, vert, bleu”). It is for example possible to carry out image recognition from the image data to detect a traffic sign 14 present in the environment 2 of the vehicle 4 and to recognize its content, for example at the edge of the lane. traffic on which the vehicle 4 is traveling. The image data can also make it possible to determine the successive positions taken by an object moving in the environment 2 relative to the vehicle 4, and to deduce one or more dynamic parameters of the moving object such as speed and/or acceleration.

The device 10 can for example take the form of (or include a) calculator, or a combination of calculators. An example of implementation of the device 10 is described later.

As already indicated, the control unit 20 and the device 10 are configured to cooperate together to implement an interactive entertainment service SV1 (also called digital service). To do this, the device 10 and the control unit 20 can communicate together via a communication network NT1, for example a mobile network of any suitable type. The NT1 network is for example a 4G or 5G type mobile network, although other types of network are possible. As illustrated in , the device 10 accesses for example the communication network NT1 via a relay antenna 18 located in the vicinity of the vehicle 4.

The control unit 20 may include a server, or a set of servers, accessible by the device 10 via the communication network NT1.

As illustrated in , the control unit 20 is configured to determine, from the vehicle data DT1 coming from the device 10, context data DT2 comprising information associated with the environment 2 of the vehicle 4. To do this, the control unit control 20 can for example consult a database DB1 comprising context data DT2 and determine among these data DT2 relevant data based on the vehicle data DT1 received.

The nature of DT2 context data may vary depending on the case. This data may include, for example, cultural information associated with environment 2 in which vehicle 4 operates (multimedia content, press articles, Internet links, podcasts, list of places or sites of interest, etc.).

According to a particular example, the context data DT2 includes information associated with at least one site of interest 16 (places of worship, castle, monument, city, region, etc.) located in the vicinity of the vehicle 4, it is i.e. in or near environment 2. For example, the DT2 context data only defines sites of interest 16 (or places of interest) positioned at a distance less than a limiting distance from the vehicle 4 at a current time.

According to a particular example, the DB1 database associates at least one traffic sign (or at least one sign identifier) with corresponding DT2 context data. This DB1 database can include, for example, a database from UNESCO or the Center for National Monuments.

The control unit 20 may also include any computer processing means making it possible to store and process the data collected, namely vehicle data DT1 and context data DT2.

As illustrated in Figures 1-3, the interactive entertainment service SV1 comprises the generation, by the control unit 20, of an interactive entertainment platform PT1, also called a digital platform (or digital platform), this platform being rendered by the device 10 by means of a user interface 30 on board the vehicle 4. This digital platform PT1 includes in particular a virtual image 32 of the vehicle 4 circulating in a virtual environment corresponding to the vehicle data DT1 and the context data DT2. This virtual image 32 (or virtual copy, or digital twin) is a replica of vehicle 4 in the virtual environment of the PT1 platform. As described below, the digital platform can take various forms depending on the case.

According to a particular example, the control unit 20 generates the virtual image 32 from predefined data associated with the vehicle 4 (or a user of the vehicle 4).

According to a particular example, the digital entertainment platform PT1 is a digital space (or digital space), for example of the metaverse type, with which at least one user (or passenger) of the vehicle 4 can interact. This space includes in particular the virtual image 32 evolving in a relevant virtual world, that is to say a virtual world generated on the basis of vehicle data DT1 and context data DT2. This virtual world is consistent with the situation of the vehicle 4 at a current moment and can be adapted over time according to the data DT1 and DT2 collected by the control unit 20 (for example adaptation in real time). It is for example possible to virtually reconstruct areas close to the real environment 2 of the vehicle 4, for example areas that passengers are likely to visit in the more or less near future, for example near a current position of the vehicle. vehicle 4 or near a predefined route of vehicle 4.

For example, the virtual world of the digital platform PT1 can include at least one virtual image 34 of a site of interest 16 associated with the real environment 2 of the vehicle 4, for example the virtual image of at least a site of interest located in or near the environment 2 (for example located at a distance less than a maximum distance from the vehicle 4).

According to a particular example, the digital entertainment platform PT1 comprises a video game 36 making the virtual image 32 of the vehicle 4, the virtual environment and at least one user of the vehicle 4 interact via the user interface 30.

According to a particular example, the interactive entertainment platform PT1 allows any user on board the vehicle 4 to interact with the virtual environment, for example to visit in advance certain sites of interest 16 located near the vehicle 4 (or its predefined route) in the real world.

According to a particular example, the digital platform PT1 is configured to implement at least one personalized service based on data collected by the control unit 20 via the video game 36. This collected data is associated with the user(s). of the vehicle 4 and are generated during the execution of the video game 36 in the digital platform PT1. These services can also be adapted based on pre-recorded data (profile data) associated with or users of the vehicle 4. A personalized service can include, for example, the provision, via the user interface 30, of recommendations associated with elements of the world real (destination suggestions, recommendations on the route or on driving the vehicle, etc.).

As already indicated, the interactive entertainment platform PT1 is rendered by the device 10 by means of the user interface 30 (or man/machine interface). The configuration of this user interface 30 may vary depending on the case. In general, the user interface 30 includes any means of restitution of the digital platform PT1.

According to a particular example, the user interface 30 comprises a display device, the latter comprising for example a screen, dashboard or equivalent, this display device being configured to display or graphically restore information (multimedia content or other ) in any suitable form.

According to a particular example, the user interface 30 comprises holographic projection means configured to project all or part of the interactive entertainment platform PT1 in the form of a 3D (3-dimensional) hologram denoted 33 in . It is possible to project such holograms on any surface (internal and/or external) of the vehicle 4, for example on a surface of the passenger compartment or even on an external surface of the vehicle 4 (for example on a portion of the bodywork or headlights).

According to a particular example, the user interface 30 also comprises control means configured to allow a user to send instructions to the device 10. The user can thus interact with the interactive entertainment platform PT1 (trigger actions, select areas to visit in the virtual world, etc.). Where applicable, these control means 35 can take different forms (physical and/or tactile buttons), and can in particular be displayed as tactile buttons by a touch screen of the user interface 30.

As illustrated in , the control unit 20 implements a first control process (or method) as described below. For this purpose, the control unit 20 may comprise a computer program PG1 stored in a non-volatile memory of said control unit 20, this computer program comprising instructions for the implementation of the first method (or process ) control as described below. The control unit 20 comprises for example at least one processor or controller configured to execute the instructions defined by the computer program PG1.

As illustrated in , the interactive entertainment device 10 implements a second control process (or method) as described below. For this purpose, the device 10 may comprise a computer program PG2 stored in a non-volatile memory of the device 10, this computer program comprising instructions for the implementation of the second control method (or process) as described below. -After. The device 10 comprises for example at least one processor or controller configured to execute the instructions defined by the computer program PG2.

According to a particular example, the control system SY1 implements a third control process (or method), namely a global process/method comprising the operations (or steps) of the first and second control processes (or methods) such as described in this document. For this purpose, the system SY1 executes the instructions defined by the computer programs PG1 and PG2.

The control processes implemented respectively by the control unit 20 and by the interactive entertainment device 10 (and more generally by the system SY1) are now described jointly in Figures 1-3 according to particular embodiments. The different elements and characteristics described with reference to Figures 1-3, as well as their variants, apply analogously to the control processes described below.

In a first operation, the device 10 obtains vehicle data DT1 generated by at least one sensor 12 embedded in the vehicle 4. These DT1 data are representative of the environment 2 in which the vehicle 4 operates.

According to a particular example, the vehicle data DT1 obtained by the device 10 comprises location data, representative of a position and/or a movement of the vehicle 4, generated by at least one position and/or movement sensor 12. movement on board the vehicle 4. These location data can for example be data (or coordinates) of the GPS type (for “Global Positioning System” in English).

According to a particular example, the vehicle data DT1 obtained by the device 10 comprises detection data, representative of at least one traffic sign 14 detected in the environment 2 of the vehicle (for example on the side of the road), generated by at least one object sensor 12 on board the vehicle 4. At least one sensor 12 (a camera or other) generates, for example, video data representative of the traffic sign 14. This panel may include, for example, information characterizing one or more sites of interest in or near environment 2 of vehicle 4.

In a second operation, the device 10 sends the vehicle data DT1 to the control unit 20, in this example via the communication network NT1 accessible by a relay antenna 18. Prior to this sending, the device 10 can possibly carry out a any processing on the data generated by the sensors in order to obtain the DT1 vehicle data.

According to a particular example, the vehicle data DT1 sent by the device 10 to the control unit 20 also includes an identifier of the vehicle 4 allowing the control unit to identify the origin of the data DT1.

In a third operation, the control unit 20 receives, from the device 10, the vehicle data DT1.

In a fourth operation, the control unit 20 determines context data DT2, comprising information associated with the environment 2 of the vehicle 4. These data DT2 are determined by carrying out processing comprising a consultation of the database DB1 at from DT1 vehicle data.

The context data DT2 includes for example cultural and/or geographical information associated with the environment 2 of the vehicle 4. This information relates for example to at least one site of interest 16 located in or near the environment 2 of the vehicle. vehicle 4.

According to a particular example, the DB1 database associates at least one traffic sign 14 with context data. The control unit 20 then determines, from the database DB1, the relevant context data DT1 based on the vehicle data DT1.

In a fifth operation, the control unit 20 generates, from vehicle data DT1 and context data DT2, an interactive entertainment platform PT1 comprising a virtual image 32 of the vehicle circulating (or evolving) in a corresponding virtual environment to DT1 vehicle data and DT2 context data. As already described, this virtual image 32 constitutes a digital replica (or digital twin) of the vehicle 4. This platform PT1 is for example a digital space of the metaverse type, accessible by at least one user of the vehicle 4 via the user interface 30.

In a sixth operation, the control unit 20 transmits (or sends), to the device 10 on board the vehicle 4, data DT3, called interactive data, representative of the interactive entertainment platform PT1 to cause the restitution of this platform PT1 by the user interface 30 on board the vehicle 4. The platform PT1 is thus restored or returned in any form suitable to one or more users/passengers of the vehicle 4.

In a seventh operation, the device 10 implements the interactive entertainment service SV1 by restoring the platform PT1 from the interactive data DT3 received by means of the user interface 30. As already described, this restitution can be of various natures.

According to a particular example, the device 10 restores the platform PT1 by 3D holographic projection, for example by projection of a hologram 33 ( ) on a surface of the passenger compartment of the vehicle 4 or on an external surface of the vehicle 4. To do this, the device 10 uses holographic projection means of the user interface 30.

According to a particular example, the device 10 renders the platform PT1 by display on at least one screen of the user interface 30.

According to a particular example, the interactive entertainment platform PT1 comprises a video game 36 making the virtual image 32 of the vehicle interact with the virtual environment of the platform PT1 on the one hand, and with at least one user of the vehicle 4 via the user interface 30 on the other hand. This video game 36 can for example be associated with the virtual image 32 of the vehicle 4. This video game includes for example a control of this virtual image 32 by at least one user of the vehicle 4.

As already indicated, the PT1 digital platform makes it possible to reinforce the interactivity of the members of a group (family, friends, etc.) in vehicle 4 and thus to promote communication between passengers, so as to avoid the feeling of isolation and enrich a journey on board the vehicle 4. According to a particular example, several passengers of the vehicle 4 can thus play together (in multi-player mode) the video game 36 implemented in the digital platform PT1. A rewards system can also be implemented in the PT1 platform in association with the video game 36 in order to increase interaction between passengers.

According to a particular example, the platform PT1 gives access to users of the vehicle 4 to a social network allowing the users to communicate together and possibly communicate with individuals outside the vehicle 4.

According to a particular example, the device 10 receives, by means of the user interface 30, at least one instruction from a user of the vehicle 4 to interact with the interactive entertainment platform PT1. Thus, a user of the vehicle 4 can interact in an immersive manner with the virtual world of the digital platform PT1.

According to a particular example, the device 10 obtains multimedia content by means of the user interface 30 and transmits the multimedia content, via the communication network NT1, to a second interactive entertainment device of another vehicle, for example of the second vehicle 6 shown in , in order to share multimedia content with another user. This transmission is for example carried out by 4G or 5G type communication by means of communication on board the vehicle 4 (for example via the NT1 communication network). The multimedia content thus shared can be of various natures. This content may for example include a message (written, vocal or other) entered by a user of the vehicle 4 by means of the user interface 30. This multimedia content may also include a video selected or produced by the user of the vehicle 4. In this way, another user embedded in the other vehicle 6 can access the shared multimedia content, for example by means of a device, similar to the interactive entertainment device 10, embedded in this other vehicle 6.

The use of 5G communication can, for example, allow passengers in several vehicles to interact together via a video game in the Metaverse, exchange messages, etc.

According to a particular example, the device 10 obtains multimedia content by means of the user interface 30 as previously described, then renders the multimedia content by 3D holographic projection on an external surface of the vehicle 4 by means of the user interface 30. It it is thus possible to share messages with passengers of another vehicle 6, by projecting any 3D hologram (people, objects, animals, etc.), for example on a portion of the bodywork or on signal lights of the vehicle 4 .

There schematically illustrates the control unit 20 as previously described, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 20 corresponds for example to a server or to a network of servers.

The control unit 20 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations of the first control process as previously described with regard to Figures 1-3 and/or the steps of the first control process described below with regard to there .

According to a particular example, the control unit 20 thus comprises one (or more) processor(s) 40 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the first control method (or first process) and/or for the execution instructions for the appropriate software(s). The processor 40 may include integrated memory, an input/output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The control unit 20 further comprises at least one memory 41 corresponding for example to a volatile and/or non-volatile memory and/or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and/or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

The computer code of the embedded software(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor 40 is for example stored on the memory 41. The memory 41 can constitute an information medium according to a particular embodiment in that it comprises a computer program (for example PG1 in ) comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the first method (or first process) for controlling the invention.

There schematically illustrates the interactive entertainment device 10 as previously described, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The device 10 corresponds for example to a computer on board the vehicle 4.

The device 10 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations of the second control process as previously described with reference to Figures 1-3 and/or the steps of the second control process described below with regard to the .

Examples of such a control device 10 include, without being limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as an on-board computer of a vehicle, an electronic computer such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop. The elements of the device 10, individually or in combination, can be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and/or into discrete components. The device 10 can be produced in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

According to a particular example, the device 10 thus comprises one (or more) processor(s) 50 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the second control method (or second process) and/or for executing the instructions of the or software embedded in the device 10. The processor 50 may include integrated memory, an input/output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 10 further comprises at least one memory 51 corresponding for example to a volatile and/or non-volatile memory and/or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and/or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM , PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

The computer code of the embedded software(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor 50 is for example stored on the memory 51. The memory 51 can constitute an information medium according to a particular embodiment in that it comprises a computer program (for example PG2 in ) comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the second method (or second process) for controlling the invention.

According to different particular and non-limiting examples of embodiment, the device 10 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and/or with communication devices, for example a TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Telematic Control Unit”), for example via a communications bus or through dedicated input/output ports.

According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 10 comprises a block 52 of interface elements for communicating with external devices, for example a remote server or the "cloud" (in particular with the control unit 20 ), or the vehicle 4 when the device 10 corresponds to a smartphone or a tablet for example. The interface elements of block 52 may include one or more of the following interfaces:

- RF radio frequency interface, for example of the Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or of the Bluetooth® type (according to IEEE 802.15.1), in the band frequency at 2.4 GHz, or Sigfox type using UBN radio technology (from English Ultra Narrow Band, in French ultra narrow band), or LoRa in the 868 MHz frequency band, LTE (from English “ Long-Term Evolution” or in French “Long-Term Evolution”), LTE-Advanced (or in French LTE-advanced);

- USB interface (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or “Bus Universel en Série” in French);

- HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface”, or “Interface Multimedia Haute Definition” in French).

According to another particular and non-limiting example of embodiment, the device 10 comprises a communication interface 53 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system or on-board sensors such as the or the sensors 12) via a communication channel 55. The communication interface 53 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and/or data via the communication channel 55. The communication interface 53 corresponds by example to a wired network of the CAN type (from the English “Controller Area Network” or in French “Réseau de controllers”), CAN FD (from the English “Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate” or in French “Réseau de flexible data rate controllers"), FlexRay (standardized by ISO 17458), Ethernet (standardized by ISO/IEC 802-3) or LIN (from the English "Local Interconnect Network", or in French "Réseau local interconnected").

According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment, the device 10 can provide output signals to one or more external devices (in particular to the user interface 30), such as a display screen, touch or not, one or speakers and/or other peripherals (projection system) via respective output interfaces. According to a variant, one or the other of the external devices is integrated into the device 10.

There illustrates a diagram of the different stages of a first control process implemented by the control unit 20 and a second control process implemented by the interactive entertainment device, and more generally the stages of a process global control implemented by the control system SY1 comprising the control unit 20 and the device 10. The control unit 20 and the device 10 cooperate together to implement an interactive vehicle entertainment service SV1.

In a first step 60, the interactive entertainment device 10 obtains vehicle data DT1 generated by at least one sensor 12 embedded in the vehicle 4. These data DT1 are representative of an environment 2 in which the vehicle 4 operates.

In a second step 62, the interactive entertainment device 10 sends the vehicle data DT1 to the control unit 20, for example via the communication network NT1.

In a third step 64, the control unit 20 receives, from the interactive entertainment device 10, the vehicle data DT1.
In a fourth step 66, the control unit 20 determines context data DT2, comprising information associated with the environment 2 of the vehicle 4, by consulting a database DB1 from the vehicle data DT2.

In a fifth step 68, the control unit 20 generates, from the vehicle data DT1 and the context data DT2, an interactive entertainment platform PT1 comprising a virtual image 32 of the vehicle circulating in a virtual environment corresponding to the data of DT1 vehicle and DT2 context data.

In a sixth step 70, the control unit 20 transmits, to the interactive entertainment device 10, interactive data representative of the interactive entertainment platform PT1 to cause the restitution of said platform PT1 by a user interface 30 on-board in said vehicle.

In a seventh step 72, the interactive entertainment device 10 renders the platform PT1 by means of the user interface 30.

According to alternative embodiments, the variants and examples of the operations described above in relation to Figures 1-3 apply to the stages of the control processes of the .

A person skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments and variants described above constitute only non-limiting examples of implementation of the invention. In particular, those skilled in the art may consider any adaptation or combination of the embodiments and variants described above, in order to meet a very specific need.

The present invention is therefore not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above but extends in particular to control methods which would include secondary steps without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to devices configured for the implementation of such processes.

The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally a land motor vehicle, comprising the control device 10 described above with reference to the figures.

Claims (10)

Method for controlling an interactive entertainment service (SV1) for a vehicle (4), said method, implemented by a control unit (20) cooperating with an interactive entertainment device (10) on board the vehicle (4 ), including:
- reception (64), from the interactive entertainment device (10), of vehicle data (DT1) representative of an environment (2) in which the vehicle is operating;
- determination (66) of context data (DT2), comprising information associated with the environment of the vehicle, by consulting a database (DB1) from the vehicle data (DT1);
- generation (68), from vehicle data (DT1) and context data (DT2), of an interactive entertainment platform (PT1) comprising a virtual image (32) of the vehicle circulating in a virtual environment corresponding to the vehicle data and context data; And
- transmission (70), to the interactive entertainment device (10), of interactive data (DT3) representative of the interactive entertainment platform to cause the restitution of said platform by a user interface (30) on board said vehicle. Method according to claim 1, in which the vehicle data (DT1) comprises location data, representative of a position and/or movement of the vehicle, generated by at least one position and/or movement sensor ( 12) embedded in the vehicle. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vehicle data (DT1) comprises detection data, representative of at least one traffic sign (14) detected in the environment (2) of the vehicle, generated by at least an object sensor (12) on board the vehicle. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the interactive entertainment platform (PT1) comprises a video game (36) interacting the virtual image (32) of the vehicle, the virtual environment and at least one user of said vehicle (4) via the user interface (30). Method for controlling an interactive entertainment service (20) for a vehicle (4), said method being implemented by a control system (SY1) comprising:
- a control unit (20) implementing a method according to any one of the preceding claims; And
- an interactive entertainment device (10), embedded in the vehicle (4), cooperating with the control unit to implement said interactive entertainment service. Method according to claim 5, in which the interactive entertainment device renders the interactive entertainment platform (PT1) by means of a user interface (30) on board the vehicle, by 3D holographic projection or by display on at least one screen. Method according to claim 5 or 6, in which the interactive entertainment device:
- obtains multimedia content using the user interface (30); And
- transmits the multimedia content, via a communications network, to a second interactive entertainment device of another vehicle in order to share the multimedia content with another user. Method according to claim 5 or 6, in which the entertainment device:
- obtains multimedia content acquired by means of the user interface (30); And
- restores the multimedia content by 3D holographic projection on a surface of the vehicle (4).
Computer program (PG1; PG2) comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, when these instructions are executed by at least one processor (40; 50). Control unit (10; 20) for implementing an interactive entertainment service (22) for a vehicle (4), said control unit comprising at least one memory (41; 51) associated with at least one processor (40; 51) configured for the implementation of the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.