Method, Device, Computer Program and Computer-Readable Storage Medium for Operating a Vehicle

Abstract

A method includes capturing first and second personal information representative of first and second occupants of the vehicle. The method also includes providing vehicle information which is representative of vehicle functions and dependencies therebetween. If first request information from the first occupant for a first vehicle function, and second request information from the second occupant for a second vehicle function are captured, then, based at least partly on the vehicle information, the first request information and the second request information, it is ascertained whether the first and second requests have a correlation such that prioritization should take place with regard to execution of the first and second vehicle functions. If the correlation exists, then first proposal information is ascertained representing a way in which priority is to be given with regard to the execution of the first and second vehicle functions. The vehicle functions are executed accordingly.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A method for operating a vehicle, comprising: capturing first personal information which is representative of a first occupant of the vehicle, capturing second personal information which is representative of a second occupant of the vehicle, providing vehicle information which is representative of a predefined set of vehicle functions and dependencies between the vehicle functions that exist when they are executed, if first request information, which is representative of a first request by the first occupant for a first vehicle function from the predefined set of vehicle functions, and second request information, which is representative of a second request by the second occupant for a second vehicle function from the predefined set of vehicle functions, are captured, then ascertaining, based at least in part on the vehicle information, the first request information and the second request information, whether the first request for the first vehicle function and the second request for the second vehicle function have a correlation such that prioritization should take place with regard to execution of the first vehicle function and execution of the second vehicle function, if it is ascertained that the correlation exists, then ascertaining, based at least in part on the first personal information and the second personal information, first proposal information, which is representative of a way in which the priority is to be given with regard to the execution of the first vehicle function and the execution of the second vehicle function, and executing the first vehicle function and/or the second vehicle function for operating the vehicle depending on the first proposal information.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first personal information comprises first personal prioritization information which is representative of a prioritization of the first occupant, and/or the second personal information comprises second personal prioritization information which is representative of a prioritization of the second occupant.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein: the first proposal information is provided to the first occupant and/or the second occupant, a first user input by the first occupant and/or second occupant is captured, and the first vehicle function and/or the second vehicle function is or are executed for operating the vehicle depending on the first user input.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein executing the first vehicle function and/or the second vehicle function for operating the vehicle further comprises executing the first vehicle function and/or the second vehicle function depending on the first personal information and/or the second personal information.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein: the first personal information is representative of a first physical assignment of the first occupant within the vehicle, and/or the first personal information comprises a first user history of the first occupant, and/or the second personal information is representative of a second physical assignment of the second occupant within the vehicle, and/or the second passenger information comprises a second user history of the second occupant.

16. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein: the first proposal information is provided to the first occupant and/or the second occupant, a first user input by the first occupant and/or second occupant is captured, and the first vehicle function and/or the second vehicle function is or are executed for operating the vehicle depending on the first user input.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein executing the first vehicle function and/or the second vehicle function for operating the vehicle further comprises executing the first vehicle function and/or the second vehicle function depending on the first personal information and/or the second personal information.

18. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein: the first personal information is representative of a first physical assignment of the first occupant within the vehicle, and/or the first personal information comprises a first user history of the first occupant, and/or the second personal information is representative of a second physical assignment of the second occupant within the vehicle, and/or the second passenger information comprises a second user history of the second occupant.

19. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein: if it is not ascertained that the correlation exists, then ascertaining, based at least in part on the first personal information and the second personal information, a second proposal information, which is representative of a way in which the first vehicle function and the second vehicle function should be executed, and executing the first vehicle function and the second vehicle function for operating the vehicle depending on the second proposal information.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein: the second proposal information is provided to the first occupant and/or the second occupant, a second user input by the first occupant and/or the second occupant is captured, and the first vehicle function and the second vehicle function are executed for operating the vehicle depending on the second user input.

21. A device for operating a vehicle, which is configured to carry out the method as claimed in claim 11.

22. The device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the device is further configured such that: the first personal information comprises first personal prioritization information which is representative of a prioritization of the first occupant; and/or the second personal information comprises second personal prioritization information which is representative of a prioritization of the second occupant.

23. The device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the device is further configured such that: the first proposal information is provided to the first occupant and/or the second occupant, a first user input by the first occupant and/or second occupant is captured, and the first vehicle function and/or the second vehicle function is or are executed for operating the vehicle depending on the first user input.

24. A computer program, wherein the computer program comprises instructions, which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method as claimed in claim 11.

25. The computer program as claimed in claim 24, wherein the instructions further cause the computer to carry out the method wherein: the first personal information comprises first personal prioritization information which is representative of a prioritization of the first occupant; and/or the second personal information comprises second personal prioritization information which is representative of a prioritization of the second occupant.

26. The computer program as claimed in claim 24, wherein the instructions further cause the computer to carry out the method wherein: the first proposal information is provided to the first occupant and/or the second occupant, a first user input by the first occupant and/or second occupant is captured, and the first vehicle function and/or the second vehicle function is or are executed for operating the vehicle depending on the first user input.

27. A machine-readable storage medium, on which the computer program as claimed in claim 24 is stored.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0078] Exemplary embodiments are described in more detail below by reference to the schematic drawings. In the drawings:

[0079] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a distributed system, and

[0080] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a program for operating a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0081] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a distributed system. The distributed system comprises a vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 comprises an input device 11. In addition, the vehicle 10 comprises a microphone 12. In addition, the vehicle 10 comprises a camera 13. In addition, the vehicle 10 comprises an output device 14. In addition, the vehicle 10 comprises a device 17 for operating the vehicle 10.

[0082] Depending on the input device 11, first request information and/or second request information and/or a first user input (ENI) and/or a second user input (ZNI) can be captured.

[0083] For example, the input device 11 comprises a touch-sensitive display device (so-called “touch display”) of the vehicle 10 and/or a control element of the vehicle 10 or similar.

[0084] Depending on the microphone 12, first personal information (EPI) and/or second personal information (ZPI) and/or the first request information and/or the second request information and/or the first user input (ENI) and/or the second user input (ZNI) can be captured, for example, depending on an audio signal, captured by the microphone 12, that is representative of a voice of a first occupant of the vehicle 10 and/or a voice of a second occupant of the vehicle 10.

[0085] Additionally or alternatively, depending on the camera 13, the first personal information (EPI) and/or the second personal information (ZPI) and/or the first request information and/or the second request information and/or the first user input (ENI) and/or the second user input (ZNI) can be captured, for example depending on an image captured by the camera 13. For example, depending on the camera 13, gesture recognition can be performed and used to capture the corresponding information.

[0086] Depending on the output device 14, the first occupant and/or the second occupant can be provided with first proposal information (EVI) and/or second proposal information (ZVI).

[0087] For example, the output device 14 comprises a touch-sensitive display device (so-called “touch display”) of the vehicle 10 and/or a loudspeaker of the vehicle 10 or similar.

[0088] For example, the vehicle 10 may also comprise a plurality of input devices 11 and/or a plurality of microphones 12 and/or a plurality of cameras 13 and/or a plurality of output devices 14, which may be arranged at a plurality of different positions in the vehicle 10. For example, one of the plurality of microphones 12 is fitted on each seat of the vehicle 10.

[0089] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a program for operating a vehicle.

[0090] In particular, the program can be executed by a device. For this purpose, the device has in particular a computing unit, a program and data memory, and, for example, one or more communication interfaces. The program and data memory and/or the computing unit and/or the communication interfaces can be implemented in one component and/or distributed over multiple components.

[0091] For example, the device can be referred to as device 17 for operating the vehicle 10.

[0092] In particular, the program is stored on the program and data memory of the device for this purpose.

[0093] The program is launched in a step S101, in which variables can be initialized if necessary.

[0094] The program is continued in a step S103. In step S103 first personal information (EPI) is captured. The first personal information (EPI) is representative of a first occupant of the vehicle 10.

[0095] Optionally, in step S103, the first personal information (EPI) includes first personal prioritization information. The first personal prioritization information is representative of a prioritization of the first occupant.

[0096] In step S103, the first personal information (EPI) is optionally representative of a first spatial assignment of the first occupant within the vehicle 10.

[0097] Optionally, in step S103, the first personal information (EPI) includes a first user history of the first occupant.

[0098] According to a first example, the first personal information (EPI) is representative of a driver of the vehicle 10, who is seated in a driver's seat of the vehicle 10 and who is prioritized over a child.

[0099] According to the second example, the first personal information (EPI) is representative of a chauffeur, who is also the driver of the vehicle 10 and seated in the driver's seat of the vehicle 10.

[0100] Directly following step S103, the program is continued in a step S105. In step S105, second personal information (ZPI) is captured. The second personal information (ZPI) is representative of a second occupant of the vehicle 10.

[0101] Optionally, in step S105, the second personal information (ZPI) includes second personal prioritization information. The second personal prioritization information is representative of a prioritization of the second occupant.

[0102] In step S105, the second personal information (ZPI) is optionally representative of a second spatial assignment of the second occupant within the vehicle 10.

[0103] Optionally, in step S105 the second personal information (ZPI) includes second user history of the second occupant.

[0104] According to the first example, the second personal information (ZPI) is representative of the child seated in a front passenger seat of the vehicle 10.

[0105] According to a second example, the second passenger information (ZPI) is representative of a passenger seated in a rear seat of vehicle 10 and who is prioritized over a chauffeur.

[0106] Directly following step S105, the program is continued in a step S107. Vehicle information (FI) is provided in step S107. The vehicle information (FI) is representative of a specified set of vehicle functions and dependencies between the vehicle functions that exist when they are executed.

[0107] According to the first example, the set of vehicle functions comprises a vehicle function designed to play a music request depending on the loudspeaker.

[0108] According to the second example, the specified set of vehicle functions comprises a vehicle function that is designed to set a temperature depending on an air conditioning system of the vehicle 10 and/or on a heating system of the vehicle 10 in an interior of the vehicle 10. According to the second example, the rear seat is designed in such a way that it has a device for massaging an occupant. In addition, the specified set of vehicle functions comprises an additional vehicle function which is designed to control a massage device. In addition, the vehicle information (FI) is representative of the fact that a vehicle type of the vehicle 10 is a saloon.

[0109] Directly following step S107, the program is continued in a step S109. In step S109, if first request information, which is representative of a first request by the first occupant for a first vehicle function from the predefined set of vehicle functions, and second request information, which is representative of a second request by the second occupant for a second vehicle function from the predefined set of vehicle functions, are captured, the vehicle information (FI), the first request information and the second request information are used as a basis for ascertaining whether the first request for the first vehicle function and the second request for the second vehicle function show a correlation (K), such that a prioritization should take place with regard to execution of the first vehicle function and execution of the second vehicle function. If such a correlation (K) exists, the program is continued in step S111. If no such correlation (K) exists, the program is continued in an optional step S119.

[0110] According to the first example, the first request information is representative of the driver wanting to play a first music request, which is representative of a first artist, at a first time point.

[0111] According to the first example, the second request information is representative of the child wanting to play a second music request, which is representative of a song by a second artist, at a first time point. The second time point is essentially immediately after the first time point. In this context, the term “immediately” means, for example, a few seconds, for example in a range below one minute.

[0112] According to the first example, such a correlation (K) is identified because the vehicle function is designed to play only one music request at a time.

[0113] According to the second example, the first request information is representative of the chauffeur wanting to set a first temperature in the vehicle 10 at a fifth time point.

[0114] According to the second example, the second request information is representative of the passenger wanting to set a second temperature in the vehicle 10 at a sixth time point. The sixth time point is located after the fifth time point. At the sixth time point, the temperature inside the vehicle 10 corresponds to the first temperature. Furthermore, the second request information is representative of the passenger wanting to activate the massage device with a preset massage setting at the sixth time point.

[0115] According to the second example, no such correlation (K) is identified, as the other vehicle function is designed to use the air conditioning system to adjust the first temperature in a first region of the interior in which the driver's seat is arranged, and to adjust the second temperature in a second region of the interior where the rear seat is arranged. For example, depending on the first temperature and the second temperature, a temperature difference is determined that does not exceed a specified threshold value. Furthermore, no such correlation (K) is identified, as the execution of the other vehicle function has no dependency on the execution of the vehicle function.

[0116] In step S111, first proposal information (EVI) is ascertained depending on the first personal information (EPI) and the second personal information (ZPI). The first proposal information (EVI) is representative of the way in which the priority should be given with regard to the execution of the first vehicle function and the execution of the second vehicle function.

[0117] According to the first example, the first proposal information (EVI) is representative of the first music request being played first, followed by the second music request.

[0118] Directly following step S111, the program is continued in an optional step S113. In the optional step S113, the first proposal information (EVI) is provided to the first occupant and/or the second occupant.

[0119] According to the first example, the vehicle 10 comprises a digital voice assistant which is designed to interact with the first occupant and the second occupant depending on the input device 11 and/or the output device 14. The first proposal information (EVI) is provided to the driver and the child depending on the digital voice assistant and the output device 14.

[0120] Directly following the optional step S113, the program is continued in an optional step S115. In the optional step S115, a first user input (ENI) by the first occupant and/or the second occupant is captured.

[0121] According to the first example, depending on the input device 11, the first user input (ENI) by the driver is captured, wherein the first user input (ENI) is representative of the driver agreeing to the procedure according to the first proposal information (EVI).

[0122] Directly following the optional step S115, the program is continued in a step S117. In step S117, the first vehicle function and/or the second vehicle function is or are executed for operating the vehicle 10 depending on the first proposal information (EVI). Optionally, in step S117 the first vehicle function and/or the second vehicle function is or are executed for operating the vehicle 10 depending on the first user input (ENI).

[0123] Optionally, in step S117 the first vehicle function and/or the second vehicle function is or are executed for operating the vehicle 10 depending on the first personal information (EPI) and/or the second personal information (ZPI).

[0124] According to the first example, the first music request is played first, followed by the second music request.

[0125] Directly after step S117, the program is terminated in step S127 and can be started again in step S101 or in step S109 if required.

[0126] In the optional step S119, second proposal information (ZVI) is ascertained depending on the first personal information (EPI) and the second personal information (ZPI). The second proposal information (ZVI) is representative of the way in which the first vehicle function and the second vehicle function should be executed.

[0127] According to the second example, the second proposal information (ZVI) is representative of the second temperature being adjusted in the second region of the interior and the massage device being activated according to the preset massage setting.

[0128] Directly following the optional step S119, the program is continued in an optional step S121. In the optional step S121, the second proposal information (ZVI) is provided to the first occupant and/or the second occupant.

[0129] Directly following the optional step S121, the program is continued in an optional step S123. In the optional step S123, a second user input (ZNI) by the first occupant and/or the second occupant is captured.

[0130] Directly following the optional step S123, the program is continued in an optional step S125. In the optional step S125, the first vehicle function and the second vehicle function are executed for operating the vehicle 10 depending on the second proposal information (ZVI).

[0131] Optionally, in the optional step S125 the first vehicle function and the second vehicle function are executed for operating the vehicle 10 depending on the second user input (ZNI).

[0132] Directly after the optional step S125, the program is terminated in step S127 and can be started again in step S101 or step S109 if required.

[0133] According to the first example, after playing the second music request, the first music request is played again. A further second request information item can be captured, which is representative of the fact that the child would like to play the second music request at a third time point. A further first proposal information item (EVI) can be ascertained that is representative of playing the second music request. The further first proposal information (EVI) can be provided to the driver and the child, depending on the digital voice assistant and the output device 14. Depending on the input device 11, a further first user input (ENI) by the driver can be captured, wherein the further first user input (ENI) can be representative of the fact that the driver does not agree to the procedure according to the first proposal information (EVI). In this case, the first music request can continue to be played.

[0134] According to the second example, the second temperature is automatically set in the second region of the interior and the massage device is automatically activated according to the preset massage setting. A further first request information item can be captured, which is representative of the chauffeur wishing to play a third music request, representative of a radio program, at a seventh time point. A further second request information can be captured, which is representative of the passenger wanting to play a fourth music request, representative of a media file (so-called “podcast”), at an eighth time point. The eighth time point is located after the seventh time point. At the eighth time point the temperature will correspond to the third music request being played. For example, such a correlation (K) can be identified if only one music request can be played simultaneously. A first proposal information item (EVI) can be ascertained that is representative of playing the fourth music request. In this case, the third music request can be stopped and the fourth music request can be played automatically.

[0135] Elements of the same design or function are identified with the same reference signs across all figures.

[0136] For example, the program can be repeated as desired.