METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A DISPLAY DEVICE IN A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20100106399A1
• Filed: 04/26/2006
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Ebert, Andreas, Wengelik, Heino, Wu, Yongmei, Waeller, Christoph, Fliegner, Jens
• Granted Patent: US 8,370,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/006 Representation of non-cartographic information on maps, e.g. population distribution, wind direction, radiation levels, air and sea routes
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

In a method for controlling a display device in a motor vehicle, the display device displays a geographic map having elements which are assigned geographic positions and which are displayed on the displayed map at the geographic positions they are assigned. The relevance of the elements displayable on the map for the user is evaluated and an automatic decision is made as a function of the result of the evaluation as to which elements are displayed at the geographic positions they are assigned. A display device in a motor vehicle includes a control device, a display connected to the control device, a memory or a plurality of memories for storing data for displaying a geographic map and for storing elements that are assigned geographic positions and which are displayable on the displayed map at the geographic positions they are assigned. The display device includes a decision processor, which is connected to the control device, by which the relevance of the elements displayable on the map is able to be evaluated, and an automatic decision is able to be made as a function of the result of the evaluation as to which elements will be displayed at their assigned geographic positions.

Claims

1-35. -35. (canceled)

36. A method for controlling a display device in a motor vehicle, comprising:

evaluating a relevance for a user of the motor vehicle of elements displayable on a geographic map;

automatically determining, based on the evaluation, which elements which will be displayed at geographic positions assigned to the elements; and

displaying, on the display device, the geographic map the elements at the assigned geographic positions in based on the automatic determination.

37. The method according to claim 36, further comprising:

assigning to at least one of the elements displayable on the map a geographic position and a time parameter;

calculating an estimated time by which the geographic position of the at least one assigned element is reachable; and

relating an estimated time of arrival to the time parameter in the evaluation of the relevance of the element.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the time parameter of the element relates to at least one of (a) open hours and (b) start times, the displaying indicating whether the expected time of arrival is at least one of (a) within the opening hours and (b) before the starting time.

39. The method according to claim 37, wherein the time parameter of the element relates to at least one of (a) open hours and (b) start times, and the element is displayed on the map only if the estimated time of arrival is at least one of (a) within the open hours and (b) before the starting time.

40. The method according to claim 36, wherein at least one of (a) the relevance of the displayable elements and (b) a type of display of the displayed elements is a function of at least one of (a) contacts and (b) appointments of the user.

41. The method according to claim 36, wherein the evaluation includes taking into account previous evaluations of particular elements.

42. The method according to claim 36, further comprising transmitting a user profile, the evaluation including taking into account the user profile.

43. The method according to claim 36, further comprising at least one of:

(a) ascertaining a purpose of a trip in accordance with an appointment book, the evaluation including taking into account the ascertained purpose of the trip;

(b) at least one of (a) acquiring and (b) transmitting weather information, the evaluation including taking into account the weather information;

(c) acquiring vehicle state information, the evaluation including taking into account the vehicle state information.

44. The method according to claim 36, wherein the displaying includes displaying elements having higher relevance in a graphically emphasized manner via three-dimensional stacking.

45. The method according to claim 36, wherein the displaying includes displaying elements having higher relevance further in a foreground than elements having lower relevance.

46. The method according to claim 44, wherein the displaying includes at least one of:

(a) displaying the elements autostereoscopically for three-dimensional stacking; and

(b) displaying the elements in different, semi-transparent planes for three-dimensional stacking.

47. The method according to claim 36, further comprising reading the elements from a memory which is located inside the vehicle.

48. The method according to claim 36, further comprising transmitting the elements via a wireless network.

49. The method according to claim 36, further comprising controlling the display unit and a computer system connected thereto as a function of user settings, the settings reflecting a mood of the user.

50. The method according to claim 49, wherein the evaluating includes taking into account the mood of the user.

51. The method according to claim 49, wherein a plurality of functions of the computer system is controlled, the control of the functions is a function of parameters, the parameters are assigned values that are assigned to particular settings of the mood of the user, so that a setting of the mood of the user defines a plurality of parameter values.

52. The method according to claim 49, wherein at least one of:

(a) the mood of the user corresponds to expectations of the user with regard to control of the computer system;

(b) the mood of the user corresponds to current interests of the user with regard to at least one of (a) destination and (b) purpose of a trip with the motor vehicle;

(c) the mood settings reflect the user'"'"'s need with regard to at least one of (a) information and (b) entertainment;

(d) the mood settings reflect the user'"'"'s need with regard to arrival at a destination;

(e) the mood settings reflect the user'"'"'s need with regard to control of the computer system;

(f) the mood settings reflect how much information the user desires; and

(g) at least one of (a) a selection of the displayed elements and (b) a type of display of the elements is a function of the mood settings.

53. A display device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a control device;

a display device connected to the control device;

at least one memory configured to store data for display of a geographic map and configured to store elements to which geographic positions are assigned and which are displayable on the displayed map at assigned geographic positions; and

a decision processor connected to the control device configured to evaluate a relevance of the elements displayable on the map and configured to make an automatic decision as a function of a result of the evaluation as to which elements will be displayed at the assigned geographic positions.

54. The display device according to claim 53, wherein at least one of:

(a) the memory is configured to store a time parameter for at least one element displayable on the map, the control device coupled to a calculation device configured to calculate an estimated time by which the geographic position of the element is reachable, the decision processor configured to relate an estimated time of arrival to the time parameter in evaluation of the relevance of the element;

(b) the memory is configured to store at least one of (a) contact data and (b) appointment data of a user, at least one of (a) the decision processor configured to take into account the at least one of (a) the contact data and (b) the appointment data in evaluation of the relevance of the displayable elements and (b) the control device configured to take into account the at least one of (a) the contact data and (b) the appointment data in a type of display of the elements; and

(c) the memory is configured to store a user profile.

55. The display device according to claim 53, further comprising an interface to a vehicle bus, vehicle state information transmittable via the interface.

56. The display device according to claim 53, wherein the display is configured for autostereoscopic display of the elements.

57. The display device according to claim 53, further comprising an air interface for wireless transmission of the displayable elements.

58. The display device according to claim 53, further comprising manual setting controllers configured to set a mood of a user.

59. The display device according to claim 58, wherein the decision processor is configured to take a setting of the setting controllers for the user'"'"'s mood into account in evaluation of the relevance of the elements displayable on the map.

60. The display device according to claim 53, wherein the display device is arranged in the motor vehicle.