Method for the informative assistance of a vehicle driver by means of an on-board multimedia system

• US 20060142902A1
• Filed: 11/08/2003
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Thoms, Uwe, Melheritz, Markus, Hohl, Stefan, Windhab, Marcus
• Application Number:
  US10/538,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20060142902A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for informative support of a driver of a vehicle by means of a vehicle multimedia system, comprising a vehicle computer and an external computer, whereby the vehicle computer and the external computer exchange data over a bidirectional communication at least occasionally. According to this invention special memory areas are provided in the vehicle computer and in the external computer, whereby the contents of the memory areas characterize elements of an information supply available to and selectable by the driver of the vehicle by means of the vehicle multimedia system whereby the contents of these special memory areas are modifiable by the driver of the vehicle by an input mode which does not negatively affect driving safety and whereby the contents of the special memory areas are automatically compared.

Claims

1. A method for providing information support to a vehicle driver by means of a vehicle multimedia system, which includes a vehicle computer and an external computer that exchange data in a bidirectional communication, said method comprising:

providing special memory areas in the vehicle computer and in the external computer, contents of said special memory areas characterizing elements of information available to and selectable by the driver of a vehicle by means of the vehicle multimedia system;

causing the contents of these special memory areas to be modifiable by the driver of the vehicle through an input mode which does not negatively affect driving safety;

wherein, contents of the special memory areas are automatically compared; and

data are exchanged only after successful selection or alteration by the driver of the vehicles via bidirectional communication.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the content of the special memory areas can be modified by the driver of the vehicle by one of voice input by and manual operation.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, the wherein voice input by the driver of the vehicle is processed by the external computer to alter the contents of the special memory areas.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, the wherein processing is performed at least in part by intervention of a human operator.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the contents of the special memory areas are modifiable by a vehicle passenger.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the comparison of contents of the special memory areas is performed automatically after one of triggering by the driver, an event-controlled manner, time-controlled manner, and under control of the external computer.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein an information element designated to be removed from the information supply of the vehicle multimedia system remains in the special memory areas, but is provided with a special identifier which causes this element to be unavailable for the vehicle multimedia system.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein selection of an element from the information supply available by means of the vehicle multimedia system is performed by the driver of the vehicle, by voice input.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein a navigation unit autonomous to the vehicle is provided.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

geographic positions which pertain to an element of the information supply available to the driver of the vehicle are converted by the navigation unit into navigation-unit-specific coordinates at the time of their initial use; and

,

the coordinates are stored in a manner associated with the element.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the vehicle computer and the external computer communicate bidirectionally via a wireless network.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the vehicle computer also provides access to an information supply available outside of the vehicle multimedia system.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

means are provided for recognition of a vehicle driver; and

the vehicle multimedia system makes the information supply available on a personalized basis.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a driver-specific vehicle key is provided as the means for recognition of a driver of a vehicle.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a driver-specific calling number is provided as the means for recognition of a vehicle driver.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein additional means are provided for altering the contents of the special memory areas.

17. (canceled)

18. A computer program product having program code stored on a computer-readable data medium for performing a method for providing information support to a vehicle driver by means of a vehicle multimedia system which includes a vehicle computer and an external computer that exchange data in a bidirectional communication, said program code including steps for:

providing special memory areas in the vehicle computer and in the external computer, contents of said special memory areas characterizing elements of information available to and selectable by the driver of a vehicle by means of the vehicle multimedia system;

causing the contents of these special memory areas to be modifiable by the driver of the vehicle through an input mode which does not negatively affect driving safety;

wherein,

contents of the special memory areas are automatically compared; and

data are exchanged only after successful selection or alteration by the driver of the vehicle via bidirectional communication.