Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Navigation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-29
2001-10-16
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Navigation
C701S201000, C340S870030, C340S996000, C455S186200, C379S056200, C381S083000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304817
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an audio and/or navigation system in a motor vehicle having a control unit for a user to set system parameters.
2. Background of the Invention
Audio systems are some of the most common information and convenience systems in motor vehicles. They have a control unit for setting various system parameters. These include, by way of example, setting the desired radio station, the volume or the tone. It is also possible, by way of example, to select automatic cut-in of traffic announcements in the course of CD or cassette operation.
Navigation systems are some of the more modern information systems in motor vehicles. When a destination has been input, the systems calculate a journey route and output the necessary instructions to the driver during the journey. For dynamic route selection, that is to say route selection taking into account changing traffic conditions, the navigation systems can be connected to an audio system. This allows traffic announcements broadcast by radio to be passed directly to the navigation system via the audio system, and to be taken into account for determining the route.
The navigation system also has a control unit. The control unit can be used to select destinations from an address book, for example. It is also possible for the information representation preferred by the driver to be selected. Thus, as an example, it is possible to show map sections or arrows indicating that it is necessary to take a turnoff, for example. An audio system and a navigation system can also exist in a joint unit with a single control unit.
If the vehicle is used by different drivers, then these drivers will also prefer different system settings for the audio and/or navigation system. This means that each user will make his personally preferred system settings before setting out on a journey. This procedure is, on the one hand, time-consuming, and, on the other hand, the system parameters have to be set while the audio or navigation system is switched on. In many cases, the settings are therefore made while the engine is running. This is not desirable for environmental reasons, however. In addition, particularly in the case of company cars, the problem arises that the navigation system's address books can be seen by all users. It is not possible to have a personal allocation of an address book to one user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This is where the present invention now comes into play, the object of said invention being to specify an audio and/or navigation system which is easy to operate, particularly when the vehicle is used by more than one user.
The object is achieved in a generic audio and/or navigation system in a motor vehicle in that the system interacts with a memory element for storing user-related system parameters and with means for identifying the user, and contains further means, which are connected to the memory element and to the means for identifying the user, for selecting and setting the stored user-related system parameters for the user as current system parameters.
The inventive refinement of an audio and/or navigation system eliminates the need for regular, time-consuming, manual input of system parameters by the user before the journey. The result of this is a marked improvement in convenience in vehicles which are regularly used by different people. Each user of the vehicle need set his desired system parameters only once using the setting elements of the audio and/or navigation system and then store them in a memory element. The memory element can be both a component part of the audio and/or navigation system or else be arranged externally. Once the user has stored his preferred system parameters in the memory element, these parameters are then set again as soon as the means for identifying the user have identified him. The user can be identified by means of voice recognition, for example. To this end, the audio and/or navigation system must interact with a voice recognition system. The driver speaks one or a few words in order to be identified by the voice recognition system. If the user is recognized by the voice recognition system, the information about his identity is passed on to the audio and/or navigation system, so that the associated system parameters can be selected and set.
The user can also be identified by means of the vehicle key used, for example. If, as an example, the vehicle is one with a remotely controlled locking system, the vehicle key is connected to a receiver inside the vehicle via an infrared or radio connection. The receiver and the key interchange data to identify an authorized driver. Hence, it is an easy matter to be able to expand the data interchanged such that it is also possible to make a distinction between various keys of authorized drivers. In such a case, the audio and/or navigation system can be connected to the receiver of the remotely controlled locking system, so that the information about the key used can be transferred to the audio and/or navigation system. The user-related system parameters are then selected and set in the manner already described above.
It is also possible to fall back on memory elements for other vehicle components in order to identify the user, however. As an example, top of the range vehicles, in particular, have seat memories storing the driver's seat setting for different users of the vehicle. If a particular seat setting is now selected from the seat memory, this information can also be used to select and set the driver-specific system parameters for the audio and/or navigation system at the same time. The system parameters for the audio and/or navigation system can then, in particular, also be stored in the seat memory.
An inventive method for setting user-related system parameters in an audio and/or navigation system in a motor vehicle is distinguished in that the user is identified, system parameters are read from a memory element on the basis of the user identified, and the audio and/or navigation system is set using the system parameters which have been read.
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patent: 5754430 (1998-05-01), Sawada
patent: 5805672 (1998-09-01), Barkat et al.
patent: 5809447 (1998-09-01), Kato et al.
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Mannesmann VDO AG
Mayer Brown & Platt
To Tuan C
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