System for providing occupant-specific acoustic functions in a vehicle of transportation

• US 10,032,453 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2017
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Tzirkel-Hancock, Eli, Malka, Ilan
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzales, April G
• Application Number:
  US15/493,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20170323639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 4555692
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00757 by the input of sound, e.g. by using a voice synthesizer
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00971 Control systems or circuits characterised by including features for locking or memorising of control modes
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/023 in a chair, pillow
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/027 Spatial or constructional arrangements of microphones, e.g. in dummy heads
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/302 Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

A system, for implementation at a vehicle of transportation, having multiple arrangements of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment in the vehicle. Each arrangement is positioned at a respective occupant-specific acoustic zone of the vehicle. Each arrangement is configured to communicate with a hardware-based processing unit that, when executing code of a hardware-based storage device in operation of the system, interacts, via the arrangement, primarily only with a vehicle occupant occupying a corresponding occupant-specific acoustic zone. In some implementations, along with or instead of the acoustic equipment, the system includes multiple arrangements of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment in the vehicle. In various embodiments, based on identification of occupants at respective vehicle zones in operation of the vehicle, operations are performed, such as provision of media, vehicle-occupant conversation, and customized HVAC delivery.

Claims

1. A system, for implementation at a vehicle of transportation, comprising:

a hardware-based storage device;

multiple arrangements of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment in the vehicle, wherein;

each arrangement is positioned at a respective occupant-specific acoustic zone of the vehicle;

each arrangement is configured to communicate with a processing unit that, when executing code of the hardware-based storage device in operation of the system, interacts, via the arrangement, only with a vehicle occupant occupying a corresponding occupant-specific acoustic zone; and

the hardware-based storage device comprising an activity module that, by way of the processing unit in operation of the system;

obtains first-occupant-identifying information in response to a first occupant booking use of the vehicle;

determines, based on the first-occupant-identifying information, a first identity, of a first vehicle occupant, occupying a first occupant-specific acoustic zone of the occupant-specific acoustic zones; and

associates, by the processing unit, in the storage device, the first identity determined with data indicating the first zone.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each arrangement of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment includes a microphone for sensing sound from the occupant occupying the respective occupant-specific acoustic zone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each arrangement occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment includes a speaker for providing sound to the respective occupant-specific acoustic zone.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising the hardware-based storage device, wherein:

the multiple arrangements of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment include;

a first arrangement of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment, of the multiple arrangements of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment, positioned at a first occupant-specific acoustic zone of the occupant-specific acoustic zones; and

a second arrangement of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment, of the multiple arrangements of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment, positioned at a second occupant-specific acoustic zone of said occupant-specific acoustic zones; and

the storage device comprises an output-interface module that, by way of the processing unit in operation of the system, determines;

first-occupant output audio media to deliver by way of a first speaker, of the first arrangement, positioned at the first occupant-specific acoustic zone; and

second-occupant output audio media, distinct from the first-occupant output audio media, to deliver, simultaneously with provision of the first-occupant output audio media by way of the first speaker, by way of a second speaker, of the second arrangement, positioned at the second occupant-specific acoustic zone.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising the hardware-based storage device, wherein:

the multiple arrangements of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment include;

a first arrangement of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment positioned at a first occupant-specific acoustic zone of the occupant-specific acoustic zones; and

a second arrangement of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment positioned at a second occupant-specific acoustic zone of the occupant-specific acoustic zones; and

the storage device comprises an input module that, by way of the processing unit in operation of the system, receives;

first-occupant input audio, from a first occupant, by way of a first microphone of the first arrangement; and

second-occupant input audio, from a second occupant, by way of a second microphone of the second arrangement.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the hardware-based storage device comprises an activity module that, by way of the processing unit in operation of the system:

determines, based on the first-occupant input audio, first media to provide to a first speaker, of the first arrangement, positioned at the first occupant-specific acoustic zone; and

determines, based on the second-occupant input audio, second media to provide to a second speaker, of the second arrangement, positioned at the second occupant-specific acoustic zone.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first media is one of:

a telephone call initiated by the system and connected by way of a vehicle telecommunication system;

a telephone call initiated by the system and connected by way of an occupant portable communication device;

a telephone call initiated by the occupant portable communication device and connected by way of the vehicle telecommunication system;

a telephone call received at the vehicle by way of a vehicle telecommunication system; and

a telephone call received at the vehicle by way of the occupant portable communication device of the first occupant.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the first-occupant input indicates a user-desire to initiate or answer a telephone call; and

the activity module initiates or answers the telephone call by way of a vehicle telecommunication system or an occupant portable communication device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the activity module, by way of the processing unit in operation of the system:

obtains second-occupant-identifying information;

determines, based on second occupant identity-indicating input and the second-occupant-identifying information, a second identity, of a second vehicle occupant, occupying the second occupant-specific acoustic zone of the occupant-specific acoustic zones; and

associates, by the processing unit, in the storage device, the second identity determined with data indicating the second zone.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the second-occupant-identifying information is obtained from a remove server.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the second-occupant-identifying information is obtained by the system in response to the second occupant booking use of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the activity module is configured to, in determining the first identity of the first vehicle occupant occupying the first occupant-specific acoustic zone, determine the first identify based on first occupant identity-indicating input and the first-occupant-identifying information.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the first-occupant-identifying information is obtained from a remove server.

14. A system, for implementation at a vehicle of transportation, comprising:

a hardware-based storage device;

multiple arrangements of occupant-zone-specific heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) output equipment in the vehicle, wherein;

each arrangement is positioned at a respective occupant-specific HVAC zone of the vehicle; and

each arrangement is configured to communicate with a processing unit that, when executing code of the hardware-based storage device, interacts, via the arrangement, primarily only with a vehicle occupant occupying a corresponding occupant-specific HVAC zone;

the hardware-based storage device comprises an activity module that, by way of the processing unit in operation of the system;

determines, based on a determined first identity, of a first vehicle occupant, occupying the first occupant-specific HVAC zone, a first manner by which to provide HVAC at the first occupant-specific HVAC zone; and

determines, based on a determined second identity, of a second vehicle occupant, occupying the second occupant-specific HVAC zone, a second manner by which to provide HVAC at the second occupant-specific HVAC zone.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the multiple arrangements of occupant-zone-specific HVAC equipment include;

a first arrangement of occupant-zone-specific HVAC equipment positioned at a first occupant-specific HVAC zone of said occupant-specific HVAC zones; and

a second arrangement of occupant-zone-specific HVAC equipment positioned at a second occupant-specific HVAC zone of said occupant-specific HVAC zones;

the hardware-based storage device comprises an input module that, by way of the processing unit in operation of the system, receives;

first-occupant input audio, from a first occupant, by way of a first microphone at the first occupant-specific HVAC zone; and

second-occupant input audio, from a second occupant, by way of a second microphone at the second occupant-specific HVAC zone; and

the hardware-based storage device comprises an activity module that, by way of the processing unit in operation of the system;

determines, based on the first-occupant input audio, a first manner by which to provide HVAC at the first occupant-specific HVAC zone; and

determines, based on the second-occupant input audio, a second manner by which to provide HVAC at the second occupant-specific HVAC zone.

16. A system, for implementation at a vehicle of transportation, comprising:

multiple arrangements of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment, each arrangement being positioned, for operation of the system, at a respective occupant-specific acoustic zone of the vehicle;

a processing unit; and

a hardware-based storage device comprising;

a database module that, by way of the processing unit in operation of the system;

obtains a first occupant setting using a determined first identity of a first occupant at a first occupant-specific acoustic zone of the vehicle; and

obtains a second occupant setting using a determined second identity of a second occupant occupying a second occupant-specific acoustic zone of the vehicle; and

an activity module that, by way of the processing unit in operation of the system;

determines, based on the first identify, a manner by which to interact with the first occupant while the first occupant is positioned in the first occupant-specific acoustic zone; and

determines, based on the second identify, a manner by which to interact with the second occupant while the second occupant is positioned in the second occupant-specific acoustic zone;

wherein the first manner includes at least one manner selected from a group of manners consisting of;

a statement to make to the first occupant by way of the first arrangement of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment;

a question to ask of the first occupant by way of the first arrangement of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment;

a message to provide to the first occupant by way of the first arrangement of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment; and

a notification to provide to the first occupant by way of the first arrangement of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment.

17. A system, for implementation at a vehicle of transportation, comprising:

a hardware-based storage device;

multiple arrangements of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment in the vehicle;

wherein;

each arrangement is positioned at a respective occupant-specific acoustic zone of the vehicle; and

each arrangement is configured to communicate with a processing unit that, when executing code of a hardware-based storage device in operation of the system, interacts, via the arrangement, only with a vehicle occupant occupying a corresponding occupant-specific acoustic zone;

the hardware-based storage device comprises an activity module that, by way of the processing unit in operation of the system;

determines, based on first occupant identity-indicating input, a first identity, of a first vehicle occupant, occupying the first occupant-specific acoustic zone of the occupant-specific acoustic zones;

associates, by the processing unit, in the storage device, the first identity determined with data indicating the first zone; and

determines, based on the first identity, a first control setting or mode for use in controlling first-occupant heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) output equipment positioned at the first occupant-specific acoustic zone.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first control setting or mode affects a manner by which the system interacts with a first occupant occupying the first occupant-specific acoustic zone.

19. A system, for implementation at a vehicle of transportation, comprising:

a hardware-based storage device;

multiple arrangements of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment in the vehicle, wherein;

each arrangement is positioned at a respective occupant-specific acoustic zone of the vehicle; and

each arrangement is configured to communicate with a processing unit that, when executing code of the hardware-based storage device in operation of the system, interacts, via the arrangement, only with a vehicle occupant occupying a corresponding occupant-specific acoustic zone;

wherein the hardware-based storage device comprises an activity module that, by way of the processing unit in operation of the system;

determines, based on first occupant identity-indicating input, a first identity, of a first vehicle occupant, occupying the first occupant-specific acoustic zone of the occupant-specific acoustic zones;

associates, by the processing unit, in the storage device, the first identity determined with data indicating the first zone;

the hardware-based storage device comprises a database module that, by way of the processing unit in operation of the system;

accesses, using the first identity, a first occupant setting; and

the activity module is configured to, by way of the processing unit in operation of the system;

determines, based on the first identity, a first control setting or mode for use in controlling a first arrangement of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment, of the multiple arrangements of occupant-zone-specific acoustic equipment, being positioned at the first occupant-specific acoustic zone, the first control setting or mode affecting a manner by which the first media is provided for consumption by a first occupant occupying the first occupant-specific acoustic zone.