Display control device, and display control method

• US 9,690,592 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2014
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Sawada, Kiyohiko, Matsuyama, Shigeo, Ishiguro, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Sisley
• Application Number:
  US14/889,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20160103687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication

Abstract

A display control device for controlling a display unit in a vehicle, including a dedicated middleware that executes a dedicated application program on a vehicle side, a general purpose middleware that executes a general purpose application program from an external of the vehicle, and an interface that exchanges necessary information between the dedicate middleware and the general purpose middleware, includes: an activation device that activates the dedicated middleware first, and activates the general purpose middleware after the dedicated middleware; and a dedicated display control device that displays, before an activation of the general-purpose middleware is completed, a dedicated menu screen for activating the dedicated application program on the display unit via the dedicated middleware when the dedicated application program on the dedicated middleware is available.

Claims

1. A display control device for controlling a display of a display unit mounted in a vehicle, the display control device comprising:

a dedicated middleware that executes a dedicated application program prepared on a vehicle side;

a general purpose middleware that executes a general purpose application program delivered from an external of the vehicle and that are frequently released and easy to add and delete become available without having to connect a mobile terminal; and

an interface that exchanges necessary information between the dedicated middleware and the general purpose middleware;

a CPU that performs an activation of the dedicated middleware first on start-up, that performs an activation of the general purpose middleware after performing the activation of the dedicated middleware, and that displays on the display of the display unit, before an the activation of the general purpose middleware is completed by the CPU, a dedicated menu screen for activating the dedicated application program on the display unit via the dedicated middleware in response to the activation of the dedicated middleware being completed and the dedicated application program on the dedicated middleware being available by enabling a user to start the dedicated application program while displaying an incomplete message of the general-purpose middleware.

2. The display control device according to claim 1,

wherein the CPU displays a general-purpose menu screen for activating the dedicated application program and the general purpose application program on the display unit via the general purpose middleware after the activation of the general purpose middleware is completed.

3. The display control device according to claim 2, wherein:

when the activation of the general purpose middleware is completed, the CPU notifies the dedicated middleware of a completion of the activation, and displays the general-purpose menu screen on the display unit when the display is directed from the dedicated middleware.

4. The display control device according to claim 3,

wherein the CPU directs a display of the general-purpose menu screen when a predetermined condition is established in response to a notification of the completion of the activation from the general purpose middleware.

5. The display control device according to claim 4, wherein:

the CPU directs the display when the dedicated application program is not executed or when a user directs to stop executing the dedicated application program.

6. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein:

the CPU displays the dedicated menu screen on behalf of the general purpose middleware when the general purpose middleware does not notify a completion of the display of the general-purpose menu screen.

7. The display control device according to claim 3, wherein:

when the activation of the general purpose middleware is completed, the dedicated middleware is notified of the completion of the activation via the interface.

8. A display control method for controlling a display of a display unit mounted on a vehicle, comprising:

performing an activation of a general-purpose middleware that executes a dedicated application program prepared on a vehicle side first on start-up;

performing an activation of a general-purpose middleware that executes a general-purpose application program delivered from an external of the vehicle and that are frequently released and easy to add and delete become available without having to connect a mobile terminal after the activation of the dedicated middleware;

displaying, before the activation of the general-purpose middleware is completed, a dedicated menu screen for activating the dedicated application program on the display unit via the dedicated middleware in response to the activation of the dedicated middleware being completed and the dedicated application program on the dedicated middleware being available by enabling a user to start the dedicated application program while displaying an incomplete message of the general-purpose middleware; and

exchanging necessary information between the dedicated middleware and the general-purpose middleware through an interface.