Method for Operating an Infotainment System, Infotainment System and Vehicle

• US 20170313268A1
• Filed: 11/13/2015
• Published: 11/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: DALKE, Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 10,048,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/50 Control arrangements; Data network features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3228 Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/023 using energy recovery or conservation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for operating an infotainment system with the following steps. In a first step, the infotainment system is operated in a first operating state. In a second step, the infotainment system is operated in a first energy-saving state. In a third step, a timer is provided for waking up an operating state management mechanism of the infotainment system at a wake-up time. In a fourth step, the infotainment system is placed in a second energy-saving state. In a fifth step, the operating state management mechanism of the infotainment system is woken at a wake-up time by means of a timer. In a sixth step, the infotainment system is operated in the first energy-saving state.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method for operating an infotainment system, comprising:

operating the infotainment system in a first operating state;

operating the infotainment system in a first energy-saving state, wherein a first average power consumption of the infotainment system during the first energy-saving state is less than an average power consumption of the infotainment system in the first operating state;

provisioning a timer for waking up an operating state management mechanism of the infotainment system at a wake-up time;

placing the infotainment system into a second energy-saving state, wherein a second average power consumption of the infotainment system during the second energy-saving state is less than the first average power consumption of the infotainment system during the first energy-saving state;

waking up the operating state management mechanism of the infotainment system at the wake-up time based on the timer; and

operating the infotainment system in the first energy-saving state in response to the waking up.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wake-up time is based on a usage behavior, the usage behavior occurring before the operating of the infotainment system in the first operating state.

13. The method, of claim 11, wherein the wake-up time is based on an entry that is contained in an electronic calendar of a vehicle or a vehicle user.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a lag time of the operating of the infotainment system in the first energy-saving state based on a residual charge of an electric energy storage device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining a maximum time duration of the operating of the infotainment system in the first energy-saving state in response to the waking up based on the residual charge of the electric energy storage device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the infotainment system is coupled to a vehicle, the method further comprising transitioning the infotainment system from the first energy-saving state into the first operating state when a vehicle door of the vehicle or a vehicle trunk lid of the vehicle is opened.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the infotainment system is coupled to a vehicle, the method further comprising transitioning the infotainment system into the second energy-saving state based on a function of a distance between one or more vehicle users from the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first operating state is a full operating state, the first energy-saving state is a suspend-to-RAM state, and the second energy-saving state is a deep-sleep state.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the infotainment system is coupled to a vehicle.

20. A vehicle, comprising:

an infotainment system, configured to;

operate in a first operating state;

operate in a first energy-saving state, wherein a first average power consumption of the infotainment system during the first energy-saving state is less than an average power consumption of the infotainment system in the first operating state;

provision a timer for waking up an operating state management mechanism of the infotainment system at a wake-up time;

transition into a second energy-saving state, in which a second average power consumption of the infotainment system during the second energy-saving state is less than the first average power consumption of the infotainment system during the first energy-saving state;

wake up the operating state management mechanism at the wake-up time based on the timer; and

operate in the first energy-saving state in response to the waking up.

21. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the wake-up time is based on a usage behavior, the usage behavior occurring before the operating in the first operating state.

22. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the wake-up time is based on an entry that is contained in an electronic calendar of the vehicle or a vehicle user.

23. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the infotainment system is further configured to determine a lag time of the operating in the first energy-saving state based on a residual charge of an electric energy storage device.

24. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein the infotainment system is further configured to determine a maximum time duration of the operating in the first energy-saving state in response to the waking up based on the residual charge of the electric energy storage device.

25. The vehicle of claim 24, further comprising:

a vehicle door; and

a vehicle trunk lid;

wherein the infotainment system is further configured to transition from the first energy-saving state into the first operating state when the vehicle door or the vehicle trunk lid is opened.