IN-VEHICLE APPARATUS AND DISPLAY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE SAME

• US 20140038669A1
• Filed: 01/18/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Inventors: Shimizu, Atsushi, Nagai, Yasushi, Osafune, Tatsuaki, Matsumoto, Takashi, Mitsui, Koichi, Endo, Hiroyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,521,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/005 Adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

In a system in which an in-vehicle apparatus and a smartphone are connected to each other, screen display switching cannot be performed with priorities of all the applications taken into account as respective terminals carry applications. A management block is provided in an in-vehicle apparatus or in a smartphone. The management block holds priority definitions for starting and displaying applications on both terminals. In response to external input to both terminals, the management block selects the application to be started and displayed. The management block identifies the terminal carrying the selected application, and transmits to the identified terminal a request to start the application and to switch display output accordingly.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle apparatus comprising:

a processing block implemented by execution of an application program;

a function control block providing display output of a result of execution by the processing block;

a display control block which displays, as valid display information, on a screen of the in-vehicle apparatus, either display information output by another information processing apparatus coupled to the in-vehicle apparatus or display information output by the function control block of the in-vehicle apparatus, and

a management block which instructs the display control block to determine which of the two kinds of the display information is to be used as the valid display information;

wherein, upon receipt of a new event either by the in-vehicle apparatus or by the other information processing apparatus from the outside thereof, the management block determines whether or not to switch to the display information output as a result of processing of the new event by the processing block of either the in-vehicle apparatus or the other information processing apparatus as new valid display information, the management block further instructing the display control block to perform the switching if the management block determines that the switching is to be performed.

2. The in-vehicle apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein, upon receipt of the event, either the in-vehicle apparatus or the other information processing apparatus notifies the management block of the receipt of the event;

wherein, upon notification of the receipt of the event from either the in-vehicle apparatus or the other information processing apparatus, the management block determines which of the processing blocks of the in-vehicle apparatus and the other information processing apparatus is to take charge of the processing of the event, and

wherein the management block gives notification of the receipt of the event to either the function control block of the in-vehicle apparatus or the other information processing apparatus.

3. The in-vehicle apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, if the processing block in charge has yet to be started, the function control block starts the processing block in charge.

4. The in-vehicle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management block holds a list of the processing blocks possessed by the in-vehicle apparatus and by the other information processing apparatus, and also holds definitions for enabling the processing blocks corresponding to the list and for controlling screen switching corresponding thereto.

5. The in-vehicle apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function for coupling with a server apparatus;

wherein, upon startup, the management block detects the processing blocks incorporated in the in-vehicle apparatus and in the other information processing apparatus;

wherein the management block prepares a list reflecting the incorporated processing blocks and transmits the list to the server apparatus, and

wherein the management block acquires from the server apparatus definitions for enabling the processing blocks corresponding to the list and for controlling screen switching corresponding thereto.

6. The in-vehicle apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, upon detecting that either the in-vehicle apparatus or the other information processing apparatus has added any processing block or has deleted any of the processing blocks, the management block updates the list to reflect the added or deleted processing blocks, transmits the updated list to the server apparatus, and acquires from the server apparatus the definitions for enabling the new processing blocks corresponding to the updated list and for controlling screen switching corresponding thereto.

7. The in-vehicle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the event received from the outside is at least one of an operation performed by a user, vehicle information, and a message received via a communication link.

8. The in-vehicle apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the management block manages definitions for either enabling or disabling a group of the processing blocks in accordance with a state of coupling with another terminal and with a traveling state of the vehicle incorporating the in-vehicle apparatus;

wherein the management block selects a group of the processing blocks that can be enabled based on the definitions for the enabling or the disabling, on the state of coupling with the other terminal, and on the traveling state of the vehicle incorporating the in-vehicle apparatus, and

wherein the management block displays on the screen an interface for enabling the selected group of the processing blocks.

13. The display control system according to claim 8, further comprising a server apparatus coupled with the first and the second terminals;

wherein, upon startup, the management block detects the processing blocks incorporated in the first and the second terminals;

wherein the management block prepares a list reflecting the incorporated processing blocks and transmits the list to the server apparatus, and

wherein the management block acquires from the server apparatus definitions for enabling the processing blocks corresponding to the list and for controlling screen switching corresponding thereto.

14. The display control system according to claim 13,

wherein, upon detecting that either the first or the second terminal has added any processing block or has deleted any of the processing blocks, the management block updates the list to reflect the added or deleted processing blocks, transmits the updated list to the server apparatus, and acquires from the server apparatus the definitions for enabling the new processing blocks corresponding to the updated list and for controlling screen switching corresponding thereto.

9. A display control system, comprising a first terminal and a second terminal coupled with each other;

wherein each of the first and the second terminals includes a processing block which implements a function provided by each of the terminals, and a function control block which outputs display information based on a result of processing by the processing block;

wherein the first terminal includes a display control block which displays, as valid display information, on a screen of the first terminal, the display information output either by the first terminal or by the second terminal based on the result of the processing, and

wherein either the first terminal or the second terminal includes a management block which, upon receipt of a new event either by the first terminal or by the second terminal from the outside thereof, determines whether or not to switch to the display information output by one of the processing blocks in charge of processing the new event based on the result of the processing of the new event, as new valid display information, the management block further instructing the display control block possessed by the first terminal to perform the switching if the management block determines that the switching is to be performed.

10. The display control system according to claim 9,

wherein, upon receipt of the event, the first or the second terminal notifies the management block of the receipt of the event;

wherein, upon notification of the receipt of the event from the first or the second terminal, the management block determines which of the processing blocks is to take charge of the processing of the event, and

wherein the management block gives notification of the receipt of the event to the function control block of either the first or the second terminal having the processing block in charge of the processing of the event.

11. The display control system according to claim 10, wherein, if the processing block in charge has yet to be started, the function control block starts the processing block in charge.

12. The display control system according to claim 9, wherein the management block holds a list of the processing blocks possessed by the first and the second terminals, and also holds definitions for enabling the processing blocks corresponding to the list and for controlling screen switching corresponding thereto.

15. The display control system according to claim 9, wherein the event received from the outside is at least one of an operation performed by a user, vehicle information, and a message received via a communication link.

16. The display control system according to claim 9,

wherein the management block manages definitions for either enabling or disabling a group of the processing blocks in accordance with a state of coupling with another terminal and with a traveling state of the vehicle incorporating the first terminal;

wherein the management block selects a group of the processing blocks that can be enabled based on the definitions for the enabling or the disabling, on the state of coupling with the other terminal, and on the traveling state of the vehicle incorporating the first terminal, and

wherein the management block displays on the screen an interface for enabling the selected group of the processing blocks.