Abstract
A mode of transportation, a user interface, and a method for operating a user interface are disclosed. The user interface includes a first display device, a second display device, and an evaluator. The method includes displaying a plurality of command buttons, which are allocated to a screen display on the first display device. On the second display device, the method includes automatically determining on the basis of an incoming signal that an ergonomic optimization of an arrangement of the associated command buttons is possible. The arrangement is automatically optimized in response to the determination.
Claims
1. A method for operating a user interface using a first display device and a second display device having a touch-sensitive surface, the method comprising: displaying a multiplicity of buttons on the second display device, said buttons being associated with a screen display on the first display device; automatically ascertaining, on the basis of an arriving signal, that ergonomic optimization of an arrangement of the associated buttons is possible; and automatically optimizing the arrangement in response to the automatic ascertaining.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the arriving signal is generated in response to an incoming data connection or a system report.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the incoming data connection represents: an e-mail; a telephone call; and/or a report from an application of a vehicle electrical system or of a mobile communication device connected to the vehicle electrical system for data interchange purposes.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signal represents an increased frequency of use of a button of the multiplicity of buttons by the touch-sensitive surface in comparison with other buttons of the multiplicity of buttons.
5. The method according claim 1, wherein the automatic optimizing of the arrangement on the second display apparatus necessitates: altered positioning; and/or altered relative presentation size of the multiplicity of buttons.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signal relates to a button that is subsequently presented closer to a position of a user on the basis of the automatic optimizing.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automatic optimizing remains without influence on the screen display on the first display apparatus.
8. A user interface, comprising: a first display device; an evaluator; a second display device having a touch-sensitive surface, wherein the user interface is configured to: display a multiplicity of buttons on the second display device, said buttons being associated with a screen display on the first display device; automatically ascertain, on the basis of an arriving signal, that ergonomic optimization of an arrangement of the associated buttons is possible; and automatically optimize the arrangement in response to the automatic ascertaining.
9. The user interface according to claim 8, wherein the arriving signal is generated in response to an incoming data connection or a system report.
10. The user interface according to claim 9, wherein the incoming data connection represents: an e-mail; a telephone call; and/or a report from an application of a vehicle electrical system or of a mobile communication device connected to the vehicle electrical system for data interchange purposes.
11. The user interface according to claim 8, wherein the signal represents an increased frequency of use of a button of the multiplicity of buttons by the touch-sensitive surface in comparison with other buttons of the multiplicity of buttons.
12. The user interface according claim 8, wherein the automatic optimizing of the arrangement on the second display apparatus necessitates: altered positioning; and/or altered relative presentation size of the multiplicity of buttons.
13. The user interface according to claim 8, wherein the signal relates to a button that is subsequently presented closer to a position of a user on the basis of the automatic optimizing.
14. The user interface according to claim 8, wherein the automatic optimizing remains without influence on the screen display on the first display apparatus.
15. A mode of transport comprising: a user interface, comprising: a first display device; an evaluator; a second display device having a touch-sensitive surface, wherein the first display device is at a greater distance than the second display device from a backrest of a driver's seat of the mode of transport.
16. The mode of transport according to claim 15, wherein the first display device is arranged in a dashboard; and the second display device is arranged in a central console of the mode of transport.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of an example embodiment of a mode of transport according to the present subject matter with an example embodiment of a user interface according to the present subject matter.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows a perspective depiction of a driver workstation in an example embodiment of a mode of transport according to the present subject matter using an example embodiment of a user interface according to the present subject matter.
[0020] FIGS. 3-6 show views of screen content of two display apparatuses of an example embodiment of a user interface according to the present subject matter, as has been presented in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0021] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart illustrating steps of an example embodiment of a method according to the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 shows an automobile 10 as a mode of transport, which has a battery 8 as traction energy store. The battery 8 is connected to an electronic controller 6 as evaluator. The electronic controller 6 is moreover connected to a data memory 7 for information interchange purposes. A first screen 1 arranged in the dashboard as first display device is linked to the electronic controller 6 for information interchange purposes, just like a second screen 2 arranged in the central console as second display apparatus. The screens 1, 2 in combination with the electronic controller 6 are an example embodiment of a user interface 11 according to the present subject matter. The electronic controller 6 is moreover connected for information interchange purposes to a telephony module 9, via which it can receive signals received by an antenna 16 for incoming data connections. If, for example, a telephone call comes in, an appropriate message can be presented by the first screen 1 and a corresponding input by a button using the second screen 2 can be accepted from the user. By way of example, the user can reject or take the call. This can be effected on the basis of a caller identifier, for example. If the caller is usually rejected by the user, an ergonomic improvement can be ensured by virtue of the button for rejecting the call being presented at an ergonomically more significant position on the second screen 2 than the button for taking the call. The correspondingly opposite applies to the case in which the user usually takes the incoming caller instead of rejecting him. This can moreover take place automatically on the basis of the time of day, date, calendar entries for the user, operating state of the mode of transport, etc. If for example the electronic controller 6 ascertains that the traction energy stored in the battery 8 holds a remaining range below a predefined reference, an associated system report can be presented on the first screen 1, and different measures can be offered on the second screen 2 such that recommendable inputs, which thus have a high probability of being made, are assisted by buttons at those positions on the second screen 2 that can be accessed easily and ergonomically by the user (not depicted).
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a perspective depiction of a driver workstation, which is presented in a side view in FIG. 1 and in which the first screen 1 is at a greater distance from the backrest of a driver's seat 12 than a second screen 2 of the user interface 11 according to the present subject matter. The first screen 1 is thus suitable for presenting information, while the second screen 2 (configured as a touchscreen) is suitable for accepting ergonomically made user inputs.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a first screen 1 with a screen display that comprises, beside time and data statements and standard statements from an onboard computer, graphics representing a route profile 14 ahead and an album cover 15. The screen display 3 of the first screen 1 can be operated using a first button 4a and a second button 4b on a second screen 2 of an example embodiment of a user interface 11 according to the present subject matter. The buttons 4a, 4b take up more than half, preferably more than two thirds, of the overall presentation area of the second screen 2. Even when operating blind, it is thus comparatively improbable that the buttons 4a, 4b will be missed by the user. The presentation size of the buttons 4a, 4b is identical, since the functions associated with the buttons 4a, 4b were selected by the user with the same probability according to a previous history.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows the arrangement depicted in FIG. 3 for the case in which the buttons 4a to 4h relating to the screen display 3 were operated with greatly different probability by the user to date. By way of example, the button 4a is proportioned such that it takes up four divisions of the button grid, since the user has used the button 4a thirty-four times to date. The button 4b occupies two divisions of the button grid that are arranged next to one another, since it has been operated twenty-eight times. The remaining buttons 4c to 4h are each proportioned identically with one button division, in order to correspond to the respective frequencies of operation (once to twelve times). If the relative frequency of use of the button 4c as compared with the button 4b increases with the future use by the user, the button 4c could displace the button 4d upward, as a result of which the button 4b is reduced to a single button division, this makes space for the button 4d and the button 4c can spread out by one button division to the right. In this way, operation of the button 4c, which is now used more frequently, would become more ergonomic for the user.
[0026] FIG. 5 shows the configuration depicted in FIG. 3 following the arrival of a telephone call, which is signaled visually by a text message 13 overlaid on the previous screen display 3. Since the current occupancy state of the automobile has been detected by sensor, the user interface according to the present subject matter knows that the user is alone in the mode of transport. A use history of this user in conjunction with incoming calls from the caller furthermore states that the user tends to accept the calls from the caller and therefore the button 4a has been put into an ergonomically favorable position. To reject the incoming call, the user would need to operate the button 4b, which is at a greater distance from the driver's seat 12.
[0027] FIG. 6 shows the configuration depicted in FIG. 3, according to which it has been established that the remaining electrical range of the mode of transport has fallen to fifty kilometers. This is presented on the first screen 1 by a text message 5. The points of interest (important points in the surroundings, attractions) represented by buttons 4a to 4h on the second screen 2 are re-sorted or rearranged in response thereto such that, according to the increased need for traction energy, the applicable button 4a is presented not only in as large a manner as possible but also nearest to the user. In other words, a button 4a previously presented further to the right and/or in reduced fashion can, in response to a predefined range threshold being reached, be favored over other buttons 4b to 4h by virtue of its distance from the user being reduced and its relative size in comparison with the other buttons 4b to 4h being increased.
[0028] FIG. 7 shows steps of an example embodiment of a method according to the present subject matter for operating a user interface. The user interface comprises a first display device and a second display device. The second display device has a touch-sensitive surface that configures it as a touchscreen. In step 100 of the method, a multiplicity of buttons associated with a screen display on the first display device are displayed on the second display. The buttons are used for a user interaction with the scopes of functions of the user interface that are represented by the screen display. In step 200, it is automatically ascertained, on the basis of an arriving signal, that ergonomic optimization of an arrangement of the associated buttons is possible. In response thereto, the arrangement of the buttons on the second display device is automatically optimized in step 300, so that ergonomic operation of such buttons as extremely probably need to be operated by the user is favored.
[0029] Ultimately, road safety when using a user interface according to the present subject matter in a mode of transport is increased. The potential for distraction for the user by the user interface is reduced in comparison with arrangements known in the prior art. By this means, the user acceptance of a user interface is increased in accordance with the present subject matter.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0030] 1 First screen [0031] 2 Second screen (with touch-sensitive surface) [0032] 3 Screen display [0033] 4 4a to 4h buttons [0034] 5 Text message [0035] 6 Electronic controller [0036] 7 Data memory [0037] 8 Battery [0038] 9 Telecommunication module [0039] 10 Automobile [0040] 11 User interface [0041] 12 Driver's seat [0042] 13 Text message [0043] 14, 15 Graphics [0044] 16 Antenna [0045] 100-300 Method steps
[0046] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
