Method for Configuring Infotainment Applications in a Motor Vehicle

• US 20120143404A1
• Filed: 02/08/2012
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: ZIMMERMANN, Sebastian, SMIRNOV, Mikhail
• Granted Patent: US 8,744,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0246 Exchanging or transporting network management information using the Internet; Embedding network management web servers in network elements; Web-services-based protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/085 Retrieval of network configuration; Tracking network configuration history
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements

Abstract

A method of configuring infotainment applications in a motor vehicle is provided. A control unit is configurable via a configuration interface such that the functional scope and/or a basic setting of the infotainment application is changed based on first configuration data from a first configuration data server. A service center stationarily arranged at a distance from the motor vehicle has a second configuration data server and a second configuration data bank. The service center has a first modification interface by which configuration data of the second configuration data bank is modifiable using first access rights and a second Internet-based modification interface by which the configuration data is modifiable using second access rights differing from the first. Modifications of the configuration data are recognized and the configuration data of the first configuration data bank is changed by using the configuration data from the second configuration data bank.

Claims

1. A method of configuring infotainment applications in a motor vehicle equipped with a control unit operatively configured for at least one infotainment application, a configuration interface by which the control unit is configurable to change a functional scope and/or basic setting of the infotainment application, and a first configuration data server separate from the control unit and having a pertaining first configuration data bank for vehicle-related storage of configuration data, wherein the motor vehicle is communicable with a second configuration data server arranged at a service center remote from the vehicle and having a second configuration data bank for central storage of configuration data, as well as a first modification interface by which configuration data of the second configuration data bank is modifiable using first access rights and a second Internet-based modification interface by which configuration data of the second configuration data bank is modifiable using second access rights differing from said first access rights,

the method comprising the acts of:

recognizing modifications of the configuration data of the second configuration data bank that occur via use of one of the first and second access rights;

transmitting a change of configuration data for the first configuration data bank by use of configuration data from the second configuration data bank, wherein the transmitted change of configuration data effects a change in the functional scope and/or the basic setting of the infotainment application by way of the configuration interface of the control unit by use of configuration data from the first configuration data bank.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the change in the basic setting of the infotainment application relates to a change of administration of personal information management data.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the change in the functional scope and/or the basic setting is not possible using only operating devices available in the motor vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the service center comprises a third Internet-based modification interface by which configuration data of the second configuration data bank is modifiable via third access rights differing from the first and second access rights.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the change of configuration data for the first configuration data bank occurs in response to recognizing modifications of the configuration data of the second configuration data bank.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the change in the functional scope and/or the basic setting of the infotainment application occurs in response to a change of the configuration data of the first configuration data bank.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in a case of the change of the configuration data of the first configuration data bank upon recognizing modifications of the configuration data of the second configuration data bank, only selected configuration data of the first configuration data bank are changed.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the service center is operated by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), and further wherein the first modification interface is used for modifications by the OEM and is not an Internet-based modification interface.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the infotainment application is an email client, and further wherein the change in the functional scope and/or the basic setting comprises a configuration of the email client.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second configuration data server stores certificate signing requests or other configuration or authentication relevant data at a direction from the first configuration data server.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the certificate signing request is stored by a control unit at the configuration interface assigned to it and/or at the configuration data server.

12. A method of operating a stationery service center arranged apart from a motor vehicle equipped with a configuration interface for a control unit controlling an infotainment application, and equipped with a first configuration data server separate from the control unit having a corresponding first configuration data bank for vehicle-related storage of configuration data, a functional scope and/or basic setting of the infotainment application being changeable by the control unit via the configuration interface, the method comprising the acts of:

modifying configuration data of a second configuration data bank at the service center through a first modification interface using first access rights, the configuration data bank centrally storing configuration data;

modifying configuration data of the second configuration data bank through a second Internet-based modification interface using second access rights differing from the first access rights; and

transmitting signals to effect a change of configuration data of the first configuration data bank in the motor vehicle by use of the configuration data from the second configuration data bank, the change of configuration data of the first configuration data bank effecting a change in the functional scope and/or the basic setting of the infotainment application.

13. A method of operating a motor vehicle equipped with a configuration interface for a control unit controlling an infotainment application and equipped with a first configuration data server separate from the control unit having a corresponding first configuration data bank for vehicle-related storage of configuration data, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving signals from a stationarily arranged remote service center having a second configuration data server and a second configuration data bank for central storage of configuration data, configuration data of the second configuration data bank being modifiable through a first modification interface using first access rights and through a second Internet-based modification interface using second access rights differing from the first access rights;

changing the configuration data of the first configuration data bank by use of the received signals; and

changing a functional scope and/or a basic setting of the infotainment application by way of the configuration interface of the control unit by use of the configuration data from the first configuration data bank.