Method and apparatus for operating a user interface

• US 9,489,435 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2012
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Oel, Peter, Waeller, Christoph, Bohrer, Lorenz, Ehrke, Jens, Neugebauer, Moritz, Mischke, Michael, Seitz, Gordon, Schulz, Stefan, Gaus, Imke, Meyer, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Yen, Syling
• Application Number:
  US13/668,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20130124550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• Field of Search: 707/706, 707/713, 707/722, 707/736, 707/758, 707/781
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3608 using speech input, e.g. using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3611 using character input or menus, e.g. menus of POIs character input methods in general G06F3/0233
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue

Abstract

A method and apparatus for operating a user interface is provided, in which a first user input is detected, and a confidence analysis is carried out. Different kinds of system responses are generated depending on the result of the confidence analysis, wherein a first kind of system response comprises a system output which requires a second user input, and a second kind of system response comprises the automatic selection of a database entry. A third kind of system response comprises the first and second features, wherein the third kind of system response automatically changes into the first or second kind of system response after the expiry of a period of time. In this case, one of the two first kinds can be set as a standard or “default,” into which the automatic change then takes place after expiry of the period of time without further user interaction.

Claims

1. A method for operating a user interface, the method comprising:

detecting a first user input;

performing a confidence analysis, during which the first user input is compared with a plurality of stored database entries and each compared database entry is assigned a value of a confidence measure, which assesses a correspondence between the first user input and database entry; and

generating different types of system responses that differ from one another in at least one feature, based on a result of the confidence analysis,

wherein a first type of system response comprises, as a distinguishing first feature, a system output that requests a second user input,

wherein a second type of system response comprises, as a distinguishing second feature, an automatic selection of a database entry,

wherein a third type of system response comprises the first and second feature, the third type of system response automatically changing into the first or second type of system response after an elapse of a period of time,

wherein, based on the result of the confidence analysis, the activation of a function based on a selected database entry occurs,

wherein the activation of the function occurs based on a database entry having a highest confidence measure, and

wherein the plurality of database entries are graphically displayed on a map and a separate table, the table comprising a first column listing the plurality of database entries and a second column listing the confidence measure for each of the plurality of database entries.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the change in the system response occurs based on the result of the confidence analysis.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, based on the result of the confidence analysis, a request for a second user input comprises a representation of database entries whose number is limited and/or whose assigned values of the confidence measure are above a first threshold value.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the database entries are assigned positions on a map, wherein the database entries are represented graphically at the assigned position on the map, and wherein, after the elapse of the time period, an area around the database entry with the highest confidence measure is zoomed in automatically.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the third type of system response before the elapse of the time period, a second user input occurs on whose basis the function is activated.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the result of the confidence analysis comprises:

whether a highest value of the confidence measure exceeds a second threshold value; and

/or

how many values of the confidence measure exceed the second threshold value; and

/or

whether a difference between the highest and one of the next highest values of the confidence measure falls below a third threshold value.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, based on a result of the confidence analysis, the system output occurs on different display surfaces or at different positions on a display surface.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first user input represents a user entry and the first user input includes less than an entirety of intended user entry.

9. An apparatus for operating a user interface, the apparatus comprising:

a component configured to detect user inputs;

an interface to a functional device in which database entries are stored;

a display surface adapted for a visual presentation of system outputs; and

a processor including a control unit configured to perform a confidence analysis,

wherein comparisons are adapted to be made between user inputs and a plurality of stored database entries and each of the compared database entries is assigned a value of a confidence measure, which assesses a correspondence of a user input to a database entry,

wherein, via the control unit and based on the result of the confidence analysis, different system responses are generated that differ from one another in at least one feature,

wherein a first type of system response comprises, as a distinguishing first feature, a system output that requests a second user input,

wherein a second type of system response comprises, as a distinguishing second feature, an automatic selection of a database entry,

wherein, via the control unit, a third type of a system response is generated, which comprises the first and second feature,

wherein the third type of the system response automatically changes into the first or second type of system response after an elapse of a time period,

wherein, based on the result of the confidence analysis, the activation of a function based on a selected database entry occurs,

wherein the activation of the function occurs based on a database entry having a highest confidence measure, and

wherein the plurality of database entries are graphically displayed on a map and a separate table, the table comprising a first column listing the plurality of database entries and a second column listing the confidence measure for each of the plurality of database entries.

10. A vehicle comprising an apparatus for operating a user interface according to claim 9.