Method for accessing a vehicle-specific electronic device

• US 10,386,853 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2017
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Borngraber, Ralf, Kleine, Ulrich, Hoffmann, Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y
• Application Number:
  US15/723,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20180095477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 701 23
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1876 according to vehicle situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/195 Blocking or enabling display functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/197 Blocking or enabling of input functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/56 using mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/00 Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit , e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0285 using signals transmitted via a public communication network, e.g. GSM network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• 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

Abstract

A method for accessing an electronic device of a vehicle driver outside the vehicle including providing a vehicle which assists the vehicle driver by at least one driver assistance system while driving the vehicle and providing an electronic device of the vehicle driver outside the vehicle which communicates with the vehicle. The method includes the reproduction inside the vehicle of data contents which are stored on the electronic device of the vehicle driver outside the vehicle while the at least one driver assistance system is active. The disclosure enables a vehicle driver to perform personal tasks via one of his/her personal electronic devices during the assisted driving of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device outside the vehicle, wherein the vehicle supports the vehicle driver by a driver assistance system while driving the vehicle, the method comprising:

determining a state of the at least one driver assistance system;

receiving communication from the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device at the vehicle;

reproducing, inside the vehicle, data contents which are stored on the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device located outside the vehicle; and

providing an editing facility inside the vehicle for data contents which are stored on the electronic device of the vehicle driver outside the vehicle only while the at least one driver assistance system is active.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data contents which are stored on the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device are reproduced inside the vehicle by a reproduction device of the vehicle and/or by a mobile reproduction device which has a signal-transmitting connection to the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the reproduction device of the vehicle and/or the mobile reproduction device which has a signal-transmitting connection to the vehicle is/are provided with a reproduction signal generated by the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device outside the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the editable data contents which are stored on the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device outside the vehicle are edited inside the vehicle by an operating device of the vehicle and/or by a mobile operating device which has a signal-transmitting connection to the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data contents which are stored on the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device outside the vehicle are reproduced inside the vehicle by virtual network computing and/or wherein the editable data contents which are stored on the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device outside the vehicle are edited inside the vehicle by virtual network computing.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one driver assistance system enables assisted, highly automated and/or autonomous driving.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle and the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device outside the vehicle communicate with one another via one or more intermediate devices.

8. A communication system, comprising:

a vehicle having at least one driver assistance system and communicating with an electronic device of a vehicle driver outside the vehicle,

wherein the communication system carries out a method for accessing the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device by determining a state of the at least one driver assistance system,

receiving communication from the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device at the vehicle, reproducing, inside the vehicle, data contents which are stored on the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device located outside the vehicle; and

providing an editing facility inside the vehicle for data contents which are stored on the electronic device of the vehicle driver outside the vehicle only while the at least one driver assistance system is active.

9. The communication system of claim 8, further comprising a reproduction device of the vehicle, wherein the data contents which are stored on the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device are reproduced inside the vehicle by the reproduction device of the vehicle and/or by a mobile reproduction device which has a signal-transmitting connection to the vehicle.

10. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the reproduction device of the vehicle and/or the mobile reproduction device which has a signal-transmitting connection to the vehicle is/are provided with a reproduction signal generated by the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device outside the vehicle.

11. The communication system of claim 8, further comprising an operating device of the vehicle, wherein the editable data contents which are stored on the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device outside the vehicle are edited inside the vehicle by the operating device of the vehicle and/or by a mobile operating device which has a signal-transmitting connection to the vehicle.

12. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the data contents which are stored on the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device outside the vehicle are reproduced inside the vehicle by virtual network computing and/or wherein the editable data contents which are stored on the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device outside the vehicle are edited inside the vehicle by virtual network computing.

13. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the at least one driver assistance system enables assisted, highly automated and/or autonomous driving.

14. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle and the vehicle driver'"'"'s electronic device outside the vehicle communicate with one another via one or more intermediate devices.