EVALUATING THE USAGE BEHAVIOR OF A USER OF A PORTABLE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE IN A MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION

Abstract

A server (11), a means of transport (10) and a method for evaluating a usage behavior of a user of a portable wireless communication device (1) in a means of transport (10) are proposed. The method comprises the following steps:

operating the wireless communication device in connection with the means of transport (10) in a screen mirroring method, hereinafter referred to as “projected mode”,

analyzing a content originating from the wireless communication device (1) by means of

a graphical object recognition algorithm, and/or

an acoustic pattern recognition algorithm

by the means of transport (10) and

determining the usage behavior of the user based on the analysis result.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating a usage behavior of a user of a portable wireless communication device in a means of transport comprising the steps of: operating the wireless communication device in connection with the means of transport in a screen mirroring method, hereinafter referred to as “projected mode;” analyzing a content originating from the wireless communication device using: a graphical object recognition algorithm, and/or an acoustic pattern recognition algorithm; and determining the usage behavior of the user based on the analysis result.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content comprises a part of: a screen content, and/or an audio content output by the wireless communication device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content comprises a character string, in particular a search string.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: automatically detecting that the usage behavior indicates a need for support by the user and, in response to that outputting an assistance associated with the need for support by the means of transport.

5. The method according to claim 4, whereby the assistance recommends a function of the means of transport to the user.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content comprises rendered content of a graphical user interface and/or multimedia reproduction of the wireless communication device.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting a message representing the usage behavior and/or the analysis result by the means of transport to a server.

8. A server configured to receive messages from a plurality of means of transport originating from a method according to claim 7 and to analyze the same in connection with each other.

9. A means of transport comprising an interface for operating a wireless communication device in a projected mode, wherein the means of transport is configured to execute a method according to claim 1.

Description

[0012] Further details, features and advantages of the invention result from the following description and figures, in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of components of an embodiment of an inventive vehicle in the execution of an embodiment of an inventive method in connection with an embodiment of an inventive server; and

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart illustrating steps of an embodiment of an inventive method.

[0015] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a wireless communication device in the form of a smartphone 1, on which a first application 2 and a second application 3 are installed. The smartphone 1 is connected in terms of information technology to an evaluation unit in the form of a head unit 4 comprising a decoder 5 and an analysis module 6 of a passenger car 10 as a means of transport. The head unit 4 is in turn connected by information technology to a display device in the form of a display 7 of the passenger car 10. Whereas in the prior art applications 2, 3 generate and render audio and/or video data and then send the same to the decoder 5 and on to the display 7, the analysis module 6 is used to interpret the data rendered for output to the user in an inventive manner. In other words, the analysis module 6 determines information about what kind of data, what kind of operating steps and what kind of hardware, firmware and software are involved in the current projected mode and whether relevant scenarios exist. If this is the case, the analysis module sends data packages via the internet to an analysis server 11 in a backend 20, which catalogues the configuration in a configuration determination device 12, associates analysis data 13 and stores usage statistics in a database 14. For the further development of the projected mode and/or the car 10, developers may read the configuration and the analysis data 13 from the database 14 and view an associated video stream 8 and recognition patterns. If the analysis by the developers reveals a need to adapt the functionality of the user interface in the projected mode, a configuration-specific change may be requested and ordered (“Change Request”).

[0016] FIG. 2 shows steps of an embodiment of an inventive method for evaluating a usage behavior of a user of a portable wireless communication device in a means of transport. In step 100, the wireless communication device is coupled to the means of transport and is operated in connection with the same in a screen mirroring method/“Projected Mode”. In this process, consumer-ready multimedia content is sent from the wireless communication device to the means of transport. In step 200, a content originating from the wireless communication device is analyzed by the means of transport using a graphical object recognition algorithm. The analysis of the usage behavior in step 300 is only carried out after the explicit consent of the user, with the clear indication that the data is detected in anonymous form. In step 400 it is automatically detected that the usage behavior indicates a need for support of the user. This may be determined by comparatively long waiting times of the user between two inputs while at the same time the user's attention is directed to the user interface. In response to this, in step 500 an assistance associated with the need for support is issued by the means of transport. For example, a pop-up on a user interface of the means of transport may indicate that a function obviously sought by the user is not available in the projected mode and the user is given the choice of accessing the function directly via the means of transport and/or another user interface. In any case, in step 600 a message representing the usage behavior and/or the analysis result may be sent to the server by the means of transport. In other words, characteristic data and information about the used configuration which are important for the developer are determined and collected via the operating scenario in the projected mode. To improve the function and user comfort of the projected mode and/or means of transport, the information may be catalogued/structured and stored on the server and be made available to developers.

[0017] As a result, the present invention provides a starting point for improvements in means of transport offering a projected mode, improved integration of wireless communication devices into the on-board information network of a means of transport, more satisfied users and less distraction in road traffic.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0018] 1 Smartphone

[0019] 2, 3 Application

[0020] 4 Head Unit

[0021] 5 Decoder

[0022] 6 Analysis module

[0023] 7 Display

[0024] 8 Video stream

[0025] 9 Recognition pattern

[0026] 10 Car

[0027] 11 Analysis server

[0028] 12 Configuration recognition device

[0029] 13 Analysis data

[0030] 14 Database

[0031] 20 Backend

[0032] 100-600 Method steps