TECHNICAL DOMAIN

The invention refers to an in-vehicle or on-board method and infotainment system. More particularly, the invention relates to customization of a program function in the infotainment system.

BACKGROUND

A vehicle often contains an infotainment system in the form of one or more units with a display for the driver in order to facilitate the journey by said vehicle and/or provide the driver with information or entertainment. Such an infotainment system is sometimes also called a display unit and can contain program functions such as a radio, hands-free telephony, music player, navigation system, computer, background images on the instrument panel and suchlike. Display unit here refers to a unit with some type of display or interaction with the driver, including a visual or auditory display, or interaction with the driver.

Vehicle in this context, for example, refers to a lorry, articulated truck, pickup, delivery van, truck, camper van, maintenance vehicle, passenger car, emergency vehicle, boat, van, four-wheeler, forest tractor, forwarder, excavator, passenger car, automobile, crane lorry, tanker, motorcycle, wheel loader, moped, motor scooter, limousine, saloon, sedan, racing car, radio patrol car, mobile unit, lawnmower, tank, armoured car, snowmobile, weasel, jeep, tracked vehicle, tractor, gokart, bus, coach, combine harvester, agricultural machine, amphibious craft, boat, ferry, cruise liner, submarine, aeroplane, helicopter or other similar engine-powered or motorized means of transport, manned or unmanned, adapted to land, sea or air-based geographical transportation.

The above functions contained in the infotainment system have often been developed on the basis of the needs of the users, which is to say the drivers. However, different drivers can have different needs or preferences in terms of choice of music, language options, the information to be presented, background images and so on.

A particular vehicle in a fleet of vehicles will often be driven by several different drivers, on different occasions; this is in order to take maximum possible advantage of the vehicle. A problem that can then arise is that different drivers have different attitudes or preferences regarding the infotainment system. A particular driver 1 may always listen to death metal when the vehicle is started, while another driver 2 prefers sacred songs interspersed with accordion music. The fact that the radio is tuned to the "wrong" channel when driving of the vehicle starts can lead to irritation in either driver, or both— which is inappropriate during a vehicle journey, since such irritation can end up affecting performance.

Furthermore, tuning in radio channels can be time consuming, as can adjusting other settings on the infotainment system, claiming driving time if such adjustments are made while the vehicle is stationary. This can thus lead to delays in transit time. Alternatively, if the driver tunes in the infotainment system while driving by, say, controlling the steering wheel with his knees while adjusting the infotainment system, this can affect the attention the driver pays to the surrounding traffic situation, which can give rise to an increased risk of accidents.

In cases where different drivers prefer to set the infotainment system to different language options, apart from the added source of irritation this may conceivably entail, it can also make it more difficult or even impossible for the next driver to create a new language option for his or her own preferred language (Esperanto, for instance) in the event of his or her failing to understand the first driver's chosen language (Klingon, for example). If the previous driver has additionally inserted or uploaded e.g. background images of his/her wife/husband/partner, child, pet and/or lucky fishing mascot, the next driver will also be forced to endure having to look at these when in transit if the next driver's attempt to alter the setting in that incomprehensible language fails.

It is worth noting that the many setting options associated with an in-vehicle infotainment system generate an unsolvable complex of problems, which in a worst-case scenario can lead to interpersonal irritation, time lost on the vehicle journey and/or increased risk of accidents during vehicle journeys.

SUMMARY An aim of this invention is therefore to enable a program function in an in-vehicle infotainment system to be individually customized in order to solve at least part of the above-mentioned problem and thus achieve a vehicular improvement.

According to a first aspect of the invention this aim is achieved by a method in an in-vehicle infotainment system for customizing a program function including, for example, media playback and reproduction, media reception such as radio, navigation, Internet connection, data access, language option or suchlike in the infotainment system. The method includes receiving identity information that represents an ID card. The method also includes extracting from a memory a program function activity in the vehicle's infotainment system, connected with said identity information received. In addition the method includes adjustment and tuning of the program function in the infotainment system in accordance with the program function activity extracted.

According to a second aspect of the invention this aim of an in-vehicle infotainment system is achieved for customization of a program function including e.g. media playback and reproduction, media reception such as radio, navigation, Internet connection, data access, language option or suchlike in the infotainment system. The infotainment system includes a receiver arranged to receive identifying information representing an identity card. In addition the infotainment system also includes a processor circuit configured to extract from a memory a program function activity in the infotainment system, connected with the identity information received and configured to tune in the program function in accordance with the extracted program function activity. The infotainment system also includes a memory configured to store the program function activity connected with the identity received. By granting the vehicle's infotainment system access to identity information (ID) representing an identity card from the vehicle's tachograph (or time-mileage recorder) and storing program function activity in the vehicle's infotainment system connected with this ID, different profiles can be created for different drivers using the vehicle, thus personalizing the on-board infotainment system to a greater degree. In addition the source of irritation can be avoided since the drivers do not need to tune the system every time they are about to drive, thus bringing about an improvement to the vehicle.

Other advantages and additional new distinctive features will be set out in the following detailed description of the invention.

SCHEDULE OF FIGURES

The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the attached figures, which illustrate the embodiments of the invention:

Figure 1A is an illustration of a vehicle according to one embodiment.

Figure 1 B is an illustration of a vehicle interior according to one embodiment.

Figure 2 is a combined signalling and flow chart illustrating one embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is an illustration of a control unit according to one embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is defined as a method and as an infotainment system which can be realized in some of the embodiments described below. This invention can be implemented in many different forms, however, and should not be seen as being confined to the embodiments described herein, which are intended instead to shed light on and lend clarity to various aspects of the invention.

Additional aspects and distinctive features of the invention may emerge from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the figures attached. However, the figures should only be regarded as examples of different embodiments of the invention and should not be seen as a constraint on the invention, which is limited only by the claims attached. Furthermore, the figures are not necessarily to scale and, unless specified to the contrary, are intended to illustrate aspects of the invention conceptually. Figure 1A shows a vehicle 100, arranged to include a customized program function in an infotainment system according to one embodiment of the invention. The vehicle 100 is arranged so as to move, for example, in an initial direction 110.

Figure 1 B shows a vehicle interior in a vehicle 100, for example the vehicle 100 shown in Figure 1 A. By way of example, a drive time calculating unit 120, an identity card 130, an infotainment system 140 and an input unit 145 can be found In the vehicle 100 in Figure 1 B. The drive time calculating unit 120 can be made up of the vehicle's tachograph according to certain embodiments.

As the driver enters the vehicle 100 to commence his drive, the identity card 130 is inserted into a reading device in or connected to the drive time calculating unit 120, such as the tachograph. The infotainment system 140 can then receive identity information (ID) representing the identity card 130 from the drive time calculating unit 120/tachograph. In addition the infotainment system 140 can extract from a memory a program function activity connected to the ID received. The identity card 130 can be made up, for example, of the driver's driver card. This ID can be scanned and sent to the infotainment system 140 continuously via a communication interface, which can be wired or wireless according to certain embodiments. A particular ID there can have certain settings in the infotainment system 140 stored in this memory, for example media playback such as a music player, media reception such as a radio, navigation, Internet connection, data access, language option or suchlike, as well as level adjustment and/or user preferences, hands-free telephony, games, e-mail, texting, temperature measurement inside and outside the vehicle 100, anti-skid caution, weather forecast, weather report, traffic bulletins, presentation of information related to the vehicle's status, CCTV surveillance, clock, travel time measurement, travel distance measurement, ETA forecast, film screening, radar warning receiver, speed camera warner, game and wildlife warning system, picture display such as displaying personalized background images, driving log, memoranda, app management and suchlike.

Such settings or use of the infotainment system 140 can be related to use when the vehicle 100 is being driven but can also be related to other use when the driver has stopped the vehicle 100 for a rest, as for example with computer/Internet applications, games, TV/film playback and similar instances. Accordingly, the infotainment system 140 can tune in at least one program function in the infotainment system 140 in accordance with this stored extracted setting.

It is reasonable to assume that the identity card 130 represents the driver of the vehicle 100; if any other drivers borrow the first driver's identity card 130 for any reason, the first driver's infotainment system settings go with the card.

One advantage of this, unlike establishing the identity of the physical driver, is that it is considerably easier and cheaper to scan a code on a card than to establish the identity of the person driving. Another advantage of the invention is that drivers who happen to have mixed up their identity card 130, for example while having a tipple during a temporary rest, are immediately reminded of this at vehicle start-up when the wrong identity card 130 is inserted into the drive time calculating unit 120, or the tachograph, as the 5 infotainment system 140 has a different setting.

An additional advantage can be that the driver may have multiple identity cards 130, each of which can be associated with various profiles for the infotainment system 140 even though they are actually linked to the same driver as well. The driver may, after all, wish to have different settings depending on variations in 10 mood or, for example, on different days of the week. For instance, Mondays: death metal on the hifi system at maximum volume, a Screensaver in the form of simulated flames of fire adjacent to the instrument panel or dashboard; Tuesdays: sounds of the rainforest, simulated aquarium on the Screensaver and so on.

In certain embodiments, such as the one visualized in Figure 1 B, said 15 communication between the drive time calculating unit 120, or the tachograph, and the infotainment system 140 can be effected via a wireless interface, for example based on one of the following technologies: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Access (CDMA) 20 (CDMA 2000), Time Division Synchronous CDMA (TD-SCDMA), Long-Term Evolution (LTE); Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) standards 802.1 1 a, ac, b, g and/or n, the Internet Protocol (IP), Bluetooth and/or Near Field Communication (NFC).

In certain embodiments, communication between the drive time calculating unit 25 120, or the tachograph, and the infotainment system 140 can be effected via a wired interface, for example based on one of the following technologies in the vehicle 100: Controller Area Network (CAN), Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST), Ethernet; or outside of the vehicle 1 10: Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus "USB", Serial RS232, FireWire, Thunderbolt. By storing individual program function preferences in a memory and linking these to a particular ID, media playback in the vehicle's infotainment system 140 can be customized. In so doing, the infotainment system 140 can be matched to the driver's wishes to always tune into a particular radio station at a certain volume etc., resulting in the infotainment system 140 being tailored to the driver's need for functions, despite multiple drivers using the same infotainment system 140 in a particular vehicle 100.

When driving of the vehicle 100 commences, the driver introduces his driver's card into the drive time calculating unit 120, or the tachograph, and can thus begin or continue the driver's log in the drive time calculating unit 120 or the tachograph. This is a legal requirement in some countries for a particular type of vehicle, for example certain freight and transport vehicles.

One advantage of allowing the navigation unit 120 to access the drive time calculating unit 120, and the ID information kept on the driver's card 130 in the drive time calculating unit 120 related to the driver, or rather the driver's card 130 perhaps, is that it makes use of existing equipment in the vehicle 100, making the invention cheap to implement, as the tachograph, driver's log and driver's card 130 have to be in the vehicle 100 anyway for legal reasons, as previously described. In addition the driver's identity on the driver's card 130 can be regarded as reliable, given the illegality of manipulating this identity, which will probably deter many people from trying to modify or manipulate it.

Figure 2 shows an example of the way a program function can be customized for an infotainment system 140 in a vehicle 100 according to certain embodiments. The combined flow and signalling chart in Figure 2 illustrates a six-stage method for customizing a program function. However, it should be observed that some of the steps described 1-5 can be carried out in a chronological order somewhat different from that suggested by the numerical sequence and that some of them can be carried out in parallel with one another according to various embodiments. What is more, all of the stages described 1 -5 will not necessarily occur in all embodiments.

In a first stage the driver puts his identity card 130, such as a driver's card, into the drive time calculating unit 120 or the tachograph. This allows an ID representing the identity card 130 to be scanned by the drive time calculating unit 120 and sent to the infotainment system 140.

On receiving this ID, the infotainment system 140 can extract from a memory a setting or program function activity in the vehicle's infotainment system 140 linked to the ID received. Such a program function activity may include, say, positioning of the vehicle 100, navigation aids, listening to the radio, telephony, communication on a communicating radio, playing music, talking book playback, sensor signal playback, clock, travel time measurement, travel distance measurement, ETA forecast, fuel consumption, weather forecast, traffic information, presentation of information related to the vehicle's status, camera surveillance, Internet use, multimedia in information, games, screening a film, picture display, communication by e-mail or text, to mention just a few examples imaginable.

The infotainment system 140 can then be adjusted in accordance with this setting or program function activity. It may also be, however, that once the setting has been made the driver will change or adjust his setting. This may depend, for example, on the ID being scanned from the driver's identity card 130 not having any setting stored or associated with it, or on the driver wishing to change his preferred settings.

When the driver has made such a change to the infotainment system 140 setting, this setting can be saved, for example by linking the new setting for one or more program functions in the infotainment system 140 to the ID represented by the identity card 130 and storing this in a memory. Figure 3 illustrates an example of an embodiment for the invention. The flow chart in Figure 3 illustrates a method 300 in an infotainment system 140 in a vehicle 100 for customizing a program function including e.g. media playback and reproduction, media reception such as radio, navigation, Internet connection, data access, language option or suchlike in the infotainment system 140.

In order to enable such customization of the program function to be done correctly, the method 300 may include a number of stages 301 -307. However, it should be observed that some of the stages described 301 -307 can be carried out in a chronological order somewhat different from that suggested by the numerical sequence and that some of them can be carried out in parallel with one another according to different embodiments. Furthermore, certain stages of the method are not necessarily obligatory in all embodiments of the method 300, for example 303, 304, 306 and/or 307. The method 300 includes the following stages:

Stage 301 Identity information, ID, representing an identity card 130, is received.

The identity information, ID, representing an identity card 130, can be received from a drive time calculating unit 120 in the vehicle 100, such as the vehicle's tachograph in certain embodiments.

Stage 302 A program function activity in the vehicle's infotainment system 140, associated with the identity information ID received 301 , is extracted from a memory 425.

The program function activity can include e.g. activation of the program function, user setting of the program function and/or turning-off of the program function.

The program function activity can also include a set of program function activities linked to a number of program functions in the infotainment system 140 according to certain embodiments.

Stage 303 This stage of the method is included in some, though not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention when there is no program function activity linked to the identity information, ID, stored in the memory.

Existing program function activity in the infotainment system 140 is linked to the identity information ID received 301 .

Stage 304

This stage of the method is included in some, though not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention when there is no program function activity linked to the identity information, ID, stored in the memory. The program function activity which has been associated 303 with the identity information ID received 301 is stored in the memory in order to enable the program function in the infotainment system 140 to be set next time the identity information, ID, is received 301.

Stage 305 The program function in the infotainment system 140 is set in accordance with the program function activity extracted 302.

Such setting of the program function in the infotainment system 140 can relate to any of, for example: media playback and reproduction, media reception such as radio, navigation, Internet connection, data access, language option or suchlike. In certain embodiments such a program function can include e.g. a setting for positioning the vehicle, navigation aids, listening to the radio, telephony, communication on a communicating radio, playing music, talking book playback, sensor signal playback, clock, travel time measurement, travel distance measurement, ETA forecast, fuel consumption, weather diagnosis, weather forecast, traffic bulletins, presentation of information related to the vehicle's status, camera surveillance, Internet use, games, multimedia information, film screening, displaying pictures, screensavers, communication by e-mail, communication by text, gear selection, engine speed, AC temperature, windscreen wiper speed, headlights on main beam/dipped setting or suchlike.

Stage 306

This stage of the method is included in some, though not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention.

An instruction to store an existing program function activity and link it to the identity information ID received 301 in the memory is received from the vehicle's driver.

Stage 307 This stage of the method is included in some, though not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention.

Said program function activity linked to the identity information ID is stored in the memory.

Figure 4 illustrates one embodiment of an infotainment system 140 in a vehicle 100 for customizing a program function including e.g. media playback and reproduction, media reception such as radio, navigation, Internet connection, data access, language option or suchlike in the infotainment system 140.

This infotainment system 140 is configured to carry out at least some of the methodological stages 301 -307 previously described, included in the description of the method 300 for customizing a program function in the infotainment system 140.

In order to be able to individually and correctly customize a program function in an infotainment system 140 in the vehicle 1 10, the infotainment system 140 includes a number of components detailed in the text below. Some of the subcomponents described occur in some, though not necessarily all, of the embodiments. Additional electronics can also occur in the infotainment system 140, which are not altogether necessary to understand the function of the infotainment system 140 according to the invention.

The infotainment system 140 includes a receiver 410 configured to receive identity information ID representing an identity card 130. For example, the receiver 410 can be configured to receive such identity information ID via a wired or wireless interface from a tachograph 120 or suchlike.

In certain embodiments, moreover, the receiver 410 can be configured to receive an instruction from the vehicle's driver.

The infotainment system 140 also includes a processor circuit 420 configured to extract a program function activity in the infotainment system 140, associated with the identity information ID received, from a memory 425, and also configured to set the program function in accordance with the program function activity extracted.

Said memory 425, also included in the infotainment system 140, is configured to store the program function activity associated with the identity ID received.

Furthermore, according to some embodiments, the processor circuit 420 can be configured to detect an existing program function activity in the infotainment system 140. The processor circuit 420 can also be configured to link said program function activity to the identity information ID received. In certain embodiments the processor circuit 420 can also be configured to link an existing program function activity in the vehicle's infotainment system 140 to the identity information ID, according to an instruction received, for example.

The processor circuit 420 can be made up of, for instance, one or more Central Processing Units (CPU), a microprocessor or other logic designed to interpret and execute instructions and/or to read and write data. The processor circuit 420 can handle data for the inflow, outflow or processing of data, including buffering of data, control functions and suchlike. In certain embodiments the memory unit 425 in the infotainment system 140 can be made up of a data storage medium. The memory unit 425 can be made up, for instance, of a memory card, flash memory, USB memory, hard disk or other similar data storage unit, for example one from the group: ROM (Read-Only Memory), PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable PROM), Flash memory, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM) etc. in different embodiments.

According to certain embodiments the vehicle 100 includes a number of memories 425 for storing program function activity in the vehicle's infotainment system 140 linked to the identity information ID received, possibly together with associated information.

Furthermore, the invention includes a computer program in the infotainment system 140 for customizing a program function in an infotainment system 140 in a vehicle 100. The computer program is configured to carry out the method 300 according to at least one of the methodological stages previously described 301 - 303 when the computer program is executed in a processor circuit 420 in the infotainment system 140.

The method 300 according to stages 301 -303 for customizing a program function in an infotainment system 140 in a vehicle 100 can be implemented through one or more processor circuits 420 in the infotainment system 140 together with computer program code for carrying out one, some, certain or all of the stages 301 -303 described above, thereby enabling a computer program to include instructions for executing stages 301 -303 when the computer program is loaded in the processor circuit 420. Moreover, the invention according to certain embodiments includes a system 400 for customizing a program function in an infotainment system 140 in a vehicle 100. This system 400 includes an infotainment system 140 according to any of the embodiments previously described and a drive time calculating unit 120, such as the vehicle's tachograph, configured to extract identity information ID from a connected identity card 130 and configured to send the identity information ID to the infotainment system 140.

In addition the system 400 and/or the infotainment system 140 can include an input unit 145 configured to receive an instruction from the vehicle's driver in order to store an existing program function activity and link it to the identity information ID in a memory 425.

Some embodiments of the invention also include a vehicle 100 that includes a system 400 for customizing a program function in an infotainment system 140 in the vehicle 100, as described above.