DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A DEVICE

• US 20180039409A1
• Filed: 08/08/2017
• Published: 02/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: PERKUHN, Janine, BAUMGARTEN, Jens, LOU, Jian, MAURER, Lorenz, EICHHORN, Elisabeth, LEUCHTER, Daniel, KUHN, Mathias, FRANK, Hendrik
• Granted Patent: US 10,649,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/111 for controlling multiple devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/115 Selection of menu items
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/146 Instrument input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/164 Infotainment
• 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 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

A method for operating a device, wherein a graphical user interface is generated and displayed on a display area. The user interface has at least one operating object assigned to an application program for controlling the device. Output data are generated and displayed in the region of the assigned operating object, wherein the application program has a function having exactly two activatable program states. The first program state is activated and the output data are generated based on the activated program state. An input gesture is detected based on the user interface. The operating object has a first region and a second region and the input gesture is assigned to the first region or to the second region.

Claims

1. A method for operating a device, the method comprising:

generating and displaying a graphical user interface on a display area, wherein the user interface comprises at least one operating object assigned to an application program for controlling the device;

generating and displaying output data using an application program, wherein the output data are generated and displayed in the region of the assigned operating object, wherein the application program has a function having exactly two activatable program states consisting of a first program state and a second program state, wherein, the output data are generated based on the activated program state;

while the first program state is activated, detecting an input gesture on the user interface, wherein the at least one operating object has a first region and a second region;

assigning the detected input gesture to the first region or to the second region;

in response to the input gesture having been assigned to the first region and the detected gesture being of a first gesture type, activating the second program state; and

in response to the input gesture having been assigned to the second region and the detected gesture being of the first gesture type, generating and displaying a full image representation of the application program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the application program has at least two selectable functional parameters,

the output data are generated based on a selected functional parameter of the at least two selectable functional parameters,

the method further comprises, while a first selectable functional parameter is selected; and

in response to the input gesture being a gesture of a second gesture type, selecting a further selectable functional parameter of the at least two selectable functional parameters.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least two selectable functional parameters are stored in an ordered list.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining a first direction along a first movement axis based on the second gesture type; and

selecting the further selectable functional parameter based on the first direction.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

based on the second gesture type, determining a further direction along a further movement axis perpendicular to the first movement axis; and

in response to the input gesture having a direction along the further movement axis, displaying a displacement of the graphical user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the output data of the application program are displayed in the first region of the operating object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the output data output in the second region of the operating object are independent of the activated program state and the selected functional parameter.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is a main display.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first region and the second region occupy the entire area of the operating object.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a media reproduction, a telephone device, a navigation system and/or an information system are/is controlled by the application program.

11. An operating apparatus for operating a device, the operating apparatus comprising:

a graphics unit which generates graphics data of a graphical user interface;

a computing unit which executes an application program for controlling the device and generates output data of the application program;

a display unit having a display area which displays the user interface; and

an input unit which detects an input gesture;

wherein the user interface comprises at least one operating object assigned to the application program,

wherein the output data are displayable in the region of the assigned operating object,

wherein the application program has a function having exactly two activatable program states,

wherein while the first program state is activated, the output data are generatable based on the activated program state,

wherein the operating object has a first region and a second region,

wherein the input gesture is assignable to the first region or to the second region,

wherein, in response to the input gesture having been assigned to the first region and the input gesture being of a first gesture type, the second program state is activatable, and, in response to the input gesture having been assigned to the second region and the input gesture being of the first gesture type, a full image representation of the application program is generatable and displayable.

12. The operating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the display unit comprises a mobile device.

13. The operating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the application program has at least two selectable functional parameters, wherein the output data are generatable based on the selected functional parameter, wherein a first selectable functional parameter is selected, and, in response to the input gesture being of a second gesture type, a further selectable functional parameter of the at least two selectable functional parameters is selectable.

14. The operating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the device comprises a media reproduction system, a telephone device, a navigation system or an information system.

15. A vehicle comprising an operating apparatus for operating a device, wherein the operating apparatus comprises:

a graphics unit which generates graphics data of a graphical user interface;

a computing unit which executes an application program for controlling the device and generates output data of the application program;

a display unit having a display area which displays the user interface; and

an input unit which detects an input gesture;

wherein the user interface comprises at least one operating object assigned to the application program,

wherein the output data are displayable in the region of the assigned operating object,

wherein the application program has a function having exactly two activatable program states,

wherein while the first program state is activated, the output data are generatable based on the activated program state,

wherein the operating object has a first region and a second region,

wherein the input gesture is assignable to the first region or to the second region,

wherein, in response to the input gesture having been assigned to the first region and the input gesture being of a first gesture type, the second program state is activatable, and, in response to the input gesture having been assigned to the second region and the input gesture being of the first gesture type, a full image representation of the application program is generatable and displayable.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the display unit comprises a mobile device.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the application program has at least two selectable functional parameters, wherein the output data are generatable based on the selected functional parameter, wherein a first selectable functional parameter is selected, and, in response to the input gesture being of a second gesture type, a further selectable functional parameter of the at least two selectable functional parameters is selectable.

18. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the device comprises a media reproduction system, a telephone device, a navigation system or an information system.