Dialogue system for a motor vehicle

• US 8,731,772 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Kuenzner, Hermann
• Primary Examiner(s): TISSOT, ADAM D
• Application Number:
  US12/763,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20100204915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425, 340/709, 340/706, 340/711, 340/712, 340/602, 340/710, 340/723, 340/184, 340/156, 340164-165, 340/902, 345/184, 345/156, 345164-165, 345/902, 345/425, 345/709, 345/706, 345/711, 345/712, 345/602, 345/710, 345/723
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/122 Instrument input devices with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• 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: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

In a dialogue system for a motor vehicle, the dialogue system including a plurality of control keys, assigning at least one of at least on of the control keys a function from a predefined set of functions in such a manner that the function is executed upon actuation of the control key. The control key can be assigned a primary parameter, which is automatically required for executing the function, and at least one secondary parameter which relates to the method for executing the function, in such a manner that the function is executed in the manner defined by the secondary parameter upon actuation of the control key.

Claims

1. A dialogue system for a motor vehicle, the dialogue system comprising:

a plurality of control keys, wherein at least one of the control keys can be assigned a function from a predefined set of functions in such a manner that this function is executed upon actuation of the control key, wherein the function corresponds to playing a particular radio station; and

a processor coupled to the plurality of control keys, the processor configured to

assign the control key a primary parameter which corresponds to the function, and wherein when the function is playing a particular radio station, the primary parameter is a radio station to be selected,

assign at least one secondary parameter, which relates to the method for executing the function, and

execute the function in the manner defined by the secondary parameter upon actuation of the control key.

2. The dialogue system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary parameter relates to a level of sound reproduction.

3. The dialogue system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary parameter relates to the viewing mode of a screen.

4. The dialogue system according to claim 1, wherein at least one additional of the plurality of control keys can be assigned an additional function from the predefined set of functions in such a manner that the additional function is executed upon actuation of the additional one of the control keys, wherein the function corresponds to navigating to a particular navigation destination, a corresponding primary parameter is an address for the particular navigation destination, and a corresponding secondary parameter relates to route planning criteria for a route guidance to the particular navigation destination.

5. The dialogue system according to claim 1, further comprising a display screen electrically coupled to the plurality of control keys and to the processor, and wherein the processor is further configured to display a current assignment of the control key on the display screen in response to a request operation of an operator.

6. The dialogue system according to claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to display on the display screen, when the control key is assigned a primary parameter and at least one such secondary parameter,

a description of the primary parameter is displayed in response to a first request operation of an operator, and

a description of at least one secondary parameter is displayed in response to an additional second request operation of an operator.

15. The dialogue system according to claim 1, wherein at least one additional of the plurality of control keys can be assigned an additional function from the predefined set of functions in such a manner that the additional function is executed upon actuation of the additional one of the control keys, wherein the function corresponds to placing a call to a particular telephone number.

7. A method for assigning a primary parameter and at least one secondary parameter to control key of a dialogue system, the method comprising the acts of:

detecting an assignment operation of an operator during execution of a function of the dialogue system, wherein the function corresponds to playing a particular radio station;

determining a primary parameter, wherein the function execution is based on the primary parameter, and wherein when the function is playing a particular radio station, the primary parameter is a radio station to be selected;

assigning the primary parameter to the control key;

determining at least one secondary parameter based, at least in part, on the current settings of the dialogue system for executing the function; and

assigning the secondary parameter to the control key.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

detecting, by the dialogue system, an operator inquiry in an interactive mode of the dialogue system following assignment of secondary parameter, and

displaying, on a display screen of the dialogue system, output associated with one or more of a control key shall be assigned a secondary parameter, the secondary parameter shall be assigned to the control key, and the value of a specific secondary parameter to be assigned to the control key.

9. A method for assigning a primary parameter and at least one secondary parameter to a control key of a dialogue system, the method comprising the acts of:

detecting a user request operation by an operator of the dialogue system, the user request operation associated with a primary parameter during the execution of a function, wherein the function corresponds to playing a particular radio station;

detecting a secondary request operation by the operator, the secondary request operation associated with at least one secondary parameter, and

assigning the primary parameter and the at least one secondary parameter to the control key based on the current settings of the dialogue system for executing the function, and wherein when the function is playing a particular radio station, the primary parameter is a radio station to be selected.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one secondary parameter relates to a level of sound reproduction.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one secondary parameter relates to the viewing mode of a screen.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

assigning an additional primary parameter and at least one additional secondary parameter to an additional control key of the dialogue system; and

detecting an additional user request operation by the operator of the dialogue system, the additional user request operation associated with the additional primary parameter during the execution of an additional function, wherein the additional function corresponds to navigating to the particular navigation destination, the primary parameter is an address for the particular navigation destination, and the at least one secondary parameter relates to route planning criteria for a route guidance to the particular navigation destination.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising displaying, on a display screen of the dialogue system, a current assignment of the control key in response to a request operation of an operator.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising displaying on the display screen, when the control key is assigned a primary parameter and at least one such secondary parameter,

a description of the primary parameter is displayed in response to a first request operation of an operator, and

a description of at least one secondary parameter is displayed in response to an additional second request operation of an operator.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

assigning an additional primary parameter and at least one additional secondary parameter to an additional control key of the dialogue system; and

detecting an additional user request operation by the operator of the dialogue system, the additional user request operation associated with the additional primary parameter during the execution of an additional function, wherein the additional function corresponds to placing a call to a particular telephone number.