EP1896286A1

EP1896286A1 - Operating method and operating system for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP1896286A1
Application number: EP06754578A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Metta Boger; Günter METSCH; Roland Pregizer; Dietmar Scheer; Armin Zachay
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2005-06-29
Filing date: 2006-06-27
Publication date: 2008-03-12
Also published as: JP2008544898A; WO2007000313A1; US20090043448A1; DE102005030180A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating method for a vehicle comprising at least one toggle switch (31, 32) which, when actuated, allows to change between at least two applications or groups of applications (51, 52, 53, 54) associated therewith, and to a pertaining operating system (1). The invention is characterized in that once actuation of the toggle switch (31, 32) is detected, activity states of the at least two applications or groups of applications (51, 52, 53, 54) associated therewith are determined, and, depending on the activity states determined of the at least two applications or groups of applications (51, 52, 53, 54) associated therewith, at least one of the applications or groups of applications (51, 52, 53, 54) associated therewith is activated. A defined basic state of a defined application or group of applications or a stored last state of an application or group of applications last activated is adjusted when all applications or groups of applications (51, 52, 53, 54) associated with the toggle switch (31, 32) are in a first state.

Description

Operating method and operating system for a vehicle

The invention relates to an operating method for a vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and an associated operating system.

In modern vehicles, multimedia operating systems are increasingly being used. As an example, the COMAND system is specified in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. In such an operating system, a plurality of menu levels are displayed on a screen display in a menu structure, which may comprise a plurality of display areas on the screen display. The operation of the menu structure via manual actuating means, which are designed for example as so-called toggle switch, which are arranged for example on a multi-function steering wheel. By actuating the toggle switch, it is possible to switch between a plurality of menu items and / or applications and / or functions and / or subfunctions and / or options, for example in a predetermined ring order.

For example, it is possible to specify various applications which are run through in the predetermined order, eg a change between the various radio frequency bands AM-FM-MW-LW. In addition, the use of two toggle switches is known, which go through the ring order of the applications in different directions, so for example, an up or plus button or a down or minus button on the multifunction steering wheel be present. In a conventional operating method with toggle switches, two cases can be distinguished. For example, if, in a first case, one of the multiple applications is active when the toggle switch is pressed, then the next application is jumped. If none of the applications is active in a second case, then the toggle switch has no function.

In addition, the toggle switches can be used on different menu levels. For example, a first toggle switch pair in a first menu level may be used to select one of a plurality of basic applications, and a second toggle switch pair may be used to select and / or set predetermined applications or parameters in a second menu level.

In addition, so-called jump-in switches are known from the prior art, which activate an application or an application group after actuation, wherein a stored last state or a predetermined ground state of the corresponding application or application group is set. If a stored last state is set, then the predetermined basic state of the corresponding application and / or application group can be activated by a second actuation of the entry switch. To activate the basic state, a specific type of actuation can also be specified, for example one Actuation of the entry switch for a given period of time.

In the published patent application DE 199 41 947 Al controls for an instrument cluster and a central display are described, wherein the controls are integrated in a steering wheel of a motor vehicle. One of the controls is designed as a toggle switch with toggle button, with the toggle switch the instrument cluster can be activated and / or deactivated or reset to a ground state. With the rocker switch, a user can switch between different menu displays after activation of the instrument cluster. Another control element is used to accept an incoming telephone call or to end an accepted telephone conversation.

The object of the invention is to provide an operating method for a vehicle which further increases operating comfort and promotes intuitive operation and to specify an associated operating system.

The invention achieves this object by providing an operating method for a vehicle having the features of patent claim 1 and by an operating system for a vehicle having the features of patent claim 8.

Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, activation states of at least two applications or application groups are determined in an operating method for a vehicle after a recognized actuation of a toggle switch associated with the toggle switch, and depending on the detected activation states of the at least two associated applications or application groups one of the assigned applications or application groups is activated, wherein a predetermined ground state of a given application or application group or a stored last state of a last activated application or application group is set if all applications or application groups assigned to the toggle switch are in a first state.

The operating method according to the invention advantageously integrates the properties of an entry switch into a toggle switch so that the entry switch can be saved.

In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the first state of an application or application group is recognized, for example, if the associated application or application group is deactivated, wherein a second state of an application or application group is detected when the associated application or application group is activated, and wherein a third state an application or application group is detected when the application or application group is an audio application that executes a permanent audio output.

If, for example, it is detected that one of the toggle switch associated applications or application groups is in a second state, then an application or application group is activated, which is arranged in a predetermined order according to the application or application group, which is currently activated the currently activated application or application group is deactivated. This applies if the toggle switch passes through a specified sequence of the assigned applications or application groups in ascending ring order.

Alternatively, if one of the toggle switch associated applications or application group is in a second state, an application or application group can be activated, which is arranged in a predetermined order before the application or application group, which is currently activated. This applies if the toggle switch goes through a predetermined sequence of the assigned applications or application groups in descending ring order.

If, for example, it is detected that one of the applications or application groups assigned to the toggle switch is in the third state and none of the applications or application groups assigned to the toggle switch is in the second state, then the application or application group which is in the third state is activated.

In a further embodiment of the operating method according to the invention, the activated application or application group is displayed for operation on at least one optical display unit.

The applications or application groups assigned to the at least one toggle switch include, for example, a radio application and / or a disk application and / or a multimedia application and / or a navigation application and / or a video application and / or a CD application and / or a DVD application and / or a TV application and / or a telephone application and / or an e-mail application and / or an address book application.

The associated operating system for a vehicle for carrying out the method according to the invention comprises at least one toggle switch with which it is possible to change between at least two applications or application groups assigned to the toggle switch. According to the invention, the operating system comprises an evaluation and control unit which, after a detected actuation of the toggle switch, determines the state of the at least two applications or application groups assigned to the toggle switch and, depending on the determined activation states of the at least two associated applications or application groups, at least one of assigned applications or application groups, wherein the evaluation and control unit sets a predetermined ground state of a given application or application group or a stored last state of a last activated application or application group when all the toggle switch associated applications or application groups are in a first state.

In an embodiment of the operating system according to the invention, for example, two toggle switches are available, each of which the same applications or application groups are assigned, with a first toggle switch ascends the assigned arranged in a predetermined order applications or application groups and a second toggle switch the assigned in one descends through predetermined order arranged applications or application groups.

In a further embodiment, the operating system comprises a screen display for displaying the activated application or application group and an audio system for the permanent audio output of an audio application.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described below.

Showing:

1 is a block diagram of an operating system for a vehicle,

FIGS. 2 to 4 show a flowchart of a first exemplary embodiment of an operating method according to the invention, and FIGS

5 and 6 a flow chart of a second embodiment of the operating method according to the invention.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, an operating system 1 for a vehicle comprises at least one screen display 2 for displaying an activated application or application group, at least one toggle switch 31, 32 with which at least two applications associated with the toggle switch 31, 32 are located 51, 52, 53, 54, an evaluation and control unit 4, which after a detected actuation of the toggle switch 31, 32, the state of at least two to the toggle switch 31, 32 associated applications 51, 52, 53, 54 determined and depending on the determined activation states at least one of associated applications 51, 52, 53, 54 activated, and an audio system 6 for permanent audio output of an audio application. In the following, the application or application group is referred to simply as an application for the sake of simplicity.

The evaluation and control unit 4 detects, for example, a first state of an application 51, 52, 53 or 54 when the associated application 51, 52, 53 or 54 is deactivated, wherein the evaluation and control unit 4 a second state of an application 51, 52nd , 53 or 54 detects when the associated application 51, 52, 53 or 54 is activated and recognizes a third state of an application 51, 52, 53 or 54 if the application is an audio application which executes a permanent audio output.

If the evaluation and control unit 4 determines that all the applications 51, 52, 53, 54 assigned to the toggle switches 31, 32 are in the first state, then the evaluation and control unit 4 sets a predetermined basic state of a predetermined application or a stored last state a last activated application.

If the evaluation and control unit 4 determines that an application 51, 52, 53 or 54 assigned to the toggle switches 31, 32 is in the second state, then an application is activated which is arranged in a predetermined order according to the currently active application, when the first toggle switch 31 has been operated. If the second toggle switch 32 has been actuated, then an application is activated which is arranged in the predetermined sequence in front of the currently active application, if the evaluation and control unit 4 determines that an application 51, 52, 53 or 54 assigned to the toggle switches 31, 32 is in the second state. In addition, the currently active application is deactivated by the evaluation and control unit. In the context of the present invention, an active application is an application that is displayed for operation on the at least one screen display 2.

Determines the evaluation and control unit 4 that one of the toggle switches 31, 32 associated applications 51, 52, 53, 54 in the third state and none of the toggle switch 31, 32 associated applications 51, 52, 53, 54th in the second state, then the application is activated, which is in the third state.

Embodiments of the operating method for a vehicle according to the invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.

As can be seen from FIG. 2 or 5, in the operating method according to the invention for a vehicle having at least one toggle switch 31, 32 in step 100, the method is started by a detected actuation of one of the toggle switches 31, 32. The operating method can basically be divided into two embodiments. In a first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the applications associated with one or more toggle switches 31, 32 do not include applications having a permanent audio output via the audio system 6. In a second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the one or more toggle switches comprise 31, 32 associated applications at least one Audio applications with a permanent audio output via the audio system 6.

Hereinafter, "active audio application" refers to an application which can be heard via the audio system 6, ie via loudspeakers in the vehicle The application which can be seen on the screen display 2 is referred to as "active application", wherein the "active audio application" Application "may be different from the" active audio application ".

If an application is selected as the "active application", the selected application automatically becomes an "active audio application" if the selected application has a permanent audio output. Applications with a permanent audio output are, for example, all the audio and video applications present in the vehicle, which correspond to corresponding off states or other deactivated audio / video states, such as eg. In addition, an application also includes application groups, functions, sub-functions, etc., between which it is possible to change with the at least one toggle switch 31, 32.

The last set or activated application is understood to be an application which has not been activated via one of the toggle switches 31, 32 but via a menu control or in another manner. The method described thus represents an additional possibility of activation of the existing applications in the vehicle, wherein the different types of activation can be used in parallel. As can be seen from FIG. 2, after a detected actuation of one of the toggle switches 31, 32, the operating method according to the invention is started in step 100. Subsequently, in step 200, the states of the toggle switches 31, 32 associated applications 51 to 54 are detected. According to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the applications 51 to 54 have no permanent audio output. However, temporary audio outputs, such as short navigation announcements or ringing or using the hands-free system of the phone, may be possible. In step 300, it is then checked whether one of the assigned applications 51 to 54 is active.

If the check of the applications 51 to 54 reveals that no application 51 to 54 is active, then in step 320, branching is made to the node 20 in FIG. 4. As can be seen in Figure 4, the actuation of one of the toggle switches 31, 32, detected prior to step 100, results in activation of a predetermined application, e.g. the application 51, or to activate an application that was last used by the applications 51 to 54. Subsequently, the process is terminated in step 600 until a new activation by operation of one of the toggle switches 31, 32.

If the checking of the applications 51 to 54 in step 300 reveals that one of the applications 51 to 54 is active, then in step 310, branching is made to node 10 in FIG. 3. As can be seen from FIG. 3, in step 400 the currently activated application is deactivated, eg the application 52. In step 500, the application 53 arranged in the given order according to the currently active application 52 is activated, if before the step 100 an actuation of the first toggle switch 31 is detected. If an actuation of the second toggle switch 32 is detected before step 100, then in step 500 the application 51 arranged in the predetermined order in front of the currently active application 52 is activated. Subsequently, the process is terminated in step 600 until a new activation by operation of one of the toggle switches 31, 32.

For example, in an embodiment not shown, only two applications A and B are associated with a toggle switch. Pressing the toggle switch activates the other application if one of the applications is active. For example, if A is the active application, toggling the toggle switch will activate application B. If neither of the two applications is active, then either a predetermined application, e.g. the application A is activated when the toggle switch is pressed or the last activated application is reactivated.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, the operating method according to the invention in step 100 is started analogously to the method of FIG. 2 after a detected actuation of one of the toggle switches 31, 32. Subsequently, in step 200, the states of the toggle switches 31, 32 associated applications 51 to 54 are detected. According to the embodiment of FIG. 5, the applications 51 to 54 have a permanent audio output such as a radio application or a CD application or a television application. In step 300, it is then checked whether one of the assigned applications 51 to 54 is active. If the review of the applications 51 to 54 reveals in step 300 that one of the applications 51 to 54 is active, then, in analogy to FIG. 2, a branch is made to node 10 in FIG. 3 in step 310. As can be seen from FIG. 3, in step 400 the currently activated application is deactivated, eg the application 52. In step 500, the application 53 arranged in the given order according to the currently active application 52 is activated if an operation is performed before step 100 of the first toggle switch 31 is detected. If an actuation of the second toggle switch 32 is detected before step 100, then in step 500 the application 51 arranged in the predetermined order in front of the currently active application 52 is activated. Subsequently, the process is terminated in step 600 until a new activation by operation of one of the toggle switches 31, 32.

If the checking of the applications 51 to 54 reveals that no application 51 to 54 is active, then it is checked in step 800 whether one of the applications 51 to 54 is an active audio application, i. performs a permanent audio output via the audio system 6. If the checking of the applications 51 to 54 in step 800 reveals that one of the applications 51 to 54 is an active audio application, then in step 810 the system branches to node 30 in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 6, in step 900 the application activating the permanent audio output is activated. Subsequently, the process is terminated in step 600 until a new activation by operation of one of the toggle switches 31, 32.

If the check of the applications 51 to 54 in step 800 reveals that none of the applications 51 to 54 is active Audio application, then branching to node 20 in FIG. 4 at step 820. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the actuation of one of the toggle switches 31, 32 detected before step 100 results in activation of a predetermined application, eg the application 51, or activation of an application, which is the last one of the Applications 51 to 54 was used. Subsequently, the process is terminated in step 600 until a new activation by operation of one of the toggle switches 31, 32.

It can be seen from the foregoing that the toggle switches 31, 32 function both as an entry switch and as a toggle switch as a function of the states of the associated applications 51 to 54.

For example, in an embodiment not shown, only two audio applications A and B are associated with a toggle switch. Actuation of the toggle switch then activates the respective other audio application A or B if one of the audio applications B or A is active. If A is the active application, the operation of the toggle switch leads, for example, to an activation of the application B. If neither of the two applications A, B is active, then either a predetermined application, eg the application A, is activated when the toggle is activated. Switch is activated or the last activated application is reactivated. If neither of the two applications A, B is active, but one of the two applications A, B is active audio application, for example the application A performs a permanent audio output via the audio system 6, then the active audio application A becomes active on the screen display when actuated 2 illustrated application. The operating system 1 stores the current system states before switching off. The stored system states are then reloaded and set after switching on the operating system 1. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, an initial application can be defined, which is activated after switching on.

Analogously, an application is set, which is activated after a reset of the operating system or at a first startup of the operating system, if at the time of the first operation of the toggle switch 31, 32 none of the applications 51 to 54 was active.

If the application which is to be activated is switched off, the application can either be switched on automatically by actuating the toggle switch 31, 32 or the application can be skipped or it is indicated that the application is switched off or the toggle switch 31 , 32 has no function in this case.

The applications 51, 52, 53, 54 include, for example, a radio application and / or a disk application and / or a multimedia application and / or a navigation application and / or a video application and / or a CD application and / or a DVD application and / or a TV application and / or a telephone application and / or an e-mail application and / or an address book application. The radio application may include various radio devices such as DAB, FM, satellite radio or alternatively the last radio band eg AM, FM, MW and LW. The disk application includes, for example, all applications which are a multimedia drive such as CD audio, CD video, DVD audio, DVD video, MP3 CD, etc.

Claims

claims

1. Operating method for a vehicle with at least one toggle switch (31, 32), with which when actuated between at least two associated applications or application groups (51, 52, 53, 54) can be changed, characterized in that after a detected Actuation of toggle switch (31, 32) Activation states of the at least two associated applications or application groups (51, 52, 53, 54) are detected, and depending on the detected

Activation states of the at least two associated applications or application groups (51, 52, 53, 54) at least one of the associated applications or application groups (51, 52, 53, 54) is activated, wherein a predetermined ground state of a given application or application group or a stored last state A last activated application or application group is set when all the toggle switch (31, 32) associated applications or application groups (51, 52, 53, 54) are in a first state.

2. Operating method according to claim 1, characterized in that the first state of an application or application group (51, 52, 53, 54) is detected when the associated application or application group (51, 52, 53, 54) is deactivated, wherein a second state of an application or application group (51, 52, 53, 54) is detected when the associated application or application group (51, 52, 53, 54) is activated, and wherein a third state of an application or application group (51, 52, 53, 54) is detected when the application or application group is an audio application which executes a permanent audio output.

3. Operating method according to claim 2, characterized in that when one of the toggle switch (31, 32) associated with applications or application groups (51, 52, 53, 54) is in a second state, an application or application group is activated, which is arranged in a predetermined order according to the application or application group, which is currently activated, wherein the currently activated application or application group is deactivated.

4. Operating method according to claim 2, characterized in that when one of the toggle switch (31, 32) associated with applications or application groups (51, 52, 53, 54) is in a second state, an application or application group is activated, which in a given order before the application or Application group is arranged, which is currently activated, with the currently activated application or application group is disabled.

5. Operating method according to claim 2, characterized in that when one of the toggle switch (31, 32) associated with applications or application groups (51, 52, 53, 54) in the third state and none of the toggle switch (31, 32) associated applications or

Application groups (51, 52, 53, 54) in the second state, the application or application group is activated, which is in the third state.

6. Operating method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the activated application or application group for operation on at least one optical display unit (2) is displayed.

7. Operating method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least two applications or application groups (51, 52, 53, 54) a radio application and / or a disk application and / or a multimedia application and / or a navigation application and / or a video application and / or a CD application and / or a DVD application and / or a TV application and / or a telephone application and / or an e-mail application and / or an address book application include.

8. Operating system for a vehicle for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 5, with at least one toggle switch (31, 32), with which at least two of the toggle switch (31, 32) associated applications or application groups (51 , 52, 53, 54), characterized by an evaluation and control unit (4), which after a detected actuation of the toggle switch (31, 32) the state of the at least two the toggle switch (31, 32) assigned applications or application groups (51, 52, 53, 54) determined and depending on the detected activation states of the at least two associated applications or application groups (51, 52, 53, 54) at least one of the associated applications or application groups (51, 52, 53 , 54) is activated, wherein the evaluation and control unit (4) a predetermined ground state of a given application or application group or a stored last state e iner last activated application or application group sets if all the toggle switch (31, 32) associated applications or application groups (51, 52, 53, 54) are in a first state.

9. Operating system according to claim 8, characterized in that two toggle switches (31, 32) are present, which in each case the same applications or application groups (51, 52, 53, 54) are assigned, wherein a first toggle switch (31 ) the associated applications arranged in a predetermined order or application groups (51, 52, 53, 54) passes in ascending order and a second toggle switch (32) passes through the assigned applications or application groups (51, 52, 53, 54) arranged in a predetermined order in descending order.

10. Operating system according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by a screen display (2) for displaying the activated application or application group and by an audio system (6) for permanent audio output of an audio application.