Driver information interface and method of managing driver information
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An interface for managing information comprising:
- a plurality of buttons, each button having an information indicator associated therewith, each button and its associated information indicator defining a plurality of button and information indicator pairs, and each button and information indicator pair being associated with a corresponding information source of a plurality of different information sources, wherein the plurality of information sources comprises at least one source of information from the group comprising;
navigation information and real-time traffic information;
each information indicator having at least three visible indicator states, wherein each visible indicator state of the information indicator is indicative of an availability of information from the associated source of information, a first visible indicator state being an indicator off state, a second visible indicator state being an indicator steady on state and, a third visible indicator state being a flashing state during which an indicator flashes on and off; and
wherein the information indicator flashing state indicates that there is present at the corresponding information source, real-time information to which a response is necessary;
wherein each button is operable to cause a dissemination of the information from the associated source of information.
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Abstract
An interface (10) allows a user to choose when incoming information is received. Thus, the user may choose to receive particular types of information according to a current need for the information and when appropriate attention may be given to the information. The interface (10) identifies for the user at least the type of information to be received and a criticality and/or time-sensitivity of that information. The interface (10) may include, for each of a first, second and third information sources (12-16) a respective button (18-22) and a respective visual indicator (24-28).
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An interface for managing information comprising:
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a plurality of buttons, each button having an information indicator associated therewith, each button and its associated information indicator defining a plurality of button and information indicator pairs, and each button and information indicator pair being associated with a corresponding information source of a plurality of different information sources, wherein the plurality of information sources comprises at least one source of information from the group comprising;
navigation information and real-time traffic information;each information indicator having at least three visible indicator states, wherein each visible indicator state of the information indicator is indicative of an availability of information from the associated source of information, a first visible indicator state being an indicator off state, a second visible indicator state being an indicator steady on state and, a third visible indicator state being a flashing state during which an indicator flashes on and off; and wherein the information indicator flashing state indicates that there is present at the corresponding information source, real-time information to which a response is necessary; wherein each button is operable to cause a dissemination of the information from the associated source of information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Within a vehicle having a plurality of information sources, the information from each source to be communicated to an operator of the vehicle, an interface for managing communication of information from each source of the plurality of sources to the operator of the vehicle, the interface comprising:
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a plurality of buttons, each button having an information indicator associated therewith forming a button and information indicator pair, and each button and information indicator pair being associated with one of the plurality of sources of information, wherein the plurality of information sources comprises at least one source of information from the group comprising; navigation information and real-time traffic information; each status indicator having a plurality of visible indicator states, wherein at least one indicator state being indicative of information from the source of information and indicative of whether the information from the source has a time-sensitive or urgent characteristic; each button is operable to cause a dissemination of information from the associated source of information, the dissemination caused by operation of a button being in a manner in which the information would have otherwise been disseminated; and the plurality of buttons being located within the vehicle in close proximity to each other wherein a first state of a visible indicator is an off state, thereby indicating that no information is available from the corresponding information source, a second state of a visible indicator is a steady on state, indicating availability of non-safety critical information, and a third state is a flashing state during which an indicator flashes on and off, the flashing state indicating the presence of non-safety critical but time-sensitive information to which a response is necessary. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of managing information comprising:
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providing an interface having a plurality of, buttons and information indicator, pairs; associating each indicator pair with an information source; responsive to the presence of information from a source of information and a time-sensitive or urgent characteristic of said information, activating the indicator of the associated, button and information indicator pair, in one of a plurality of possible visible indicator states, a first state being an indicator off state, a second state being an indicator steady on state, which indicates there is present at the corresponding information source, non-safety critical incoming information but which does not require immediate attention, and a third state being an indicator flashing state during which the indicator flashes on and off, the flashing state indicating that there is present at the corresponding information source that is non-safety critical information but which is time-sensitive; detecting the selection of one of the buttons and information indicator pairs by a user; and providing to the user the information from the source of information associated with the selected one of the buttons and information indicator pairs. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification