Evaluation and acoustic emission of audio broadcasting signals in a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for acoustically emitting audio broadcasting signals in a vehicle, wherein audio broadcasting signals can be transmitted into the vehicle and received there over a first and at least a second reception path, wherein the first reception path is evaluated by means of at least one criterion parameter on the basis of an audio broadcasting signal that can be received over the first reception path, and the second reception path is likewise evaluated by means of a criterion parameter on the basis of the audio broadcasting signal that can be received over the second reception path. During an emission of the audio broadcasting signal over one of the reception paths, a preparation phase for preparing a switchover from the current reception path to the other reception path is started on the basis of a comparison of the criterion parameter of the current reception path to a first threshold value (S1). In the preparation phase, the criterion parameter of the current reception path is compared to a second threshold value (S2) that is lower than the first threshold value (S1), and an examination of the switchover to the other reception path is performed if the criterion parameter of the current reception value is below the second threshold value (S2).

Claims

1. A method for acoustic broadcasting of audio broadcasting signals in a vehicle, comprising: transmitting audio broadcasting signals to the vehicle over a first and over at least one second receive path and receiving the transmitted audio broadcasting signals in the vehicle, evaluating the first receive path by at least one criterion parameter based on an audio broadcasting signal receivable via the first receive path, evaluating the second receive path by a second criterion parameter based on the audio broadcasting signal receivable via the at least second receive path, during emission of the audio broadcasting signal over one of the first or the at least second receive paths representing a current receive path, starting a preparatory phase for preparing a switchover from the current receive path to an other receive path based on a comparison of a criterion parameter of the current receive path with a first threshold value, in the preparatory phase, comparing the criterion parameter of the current receive path with a second threshold value that is lower than the first threshold value and checking, whether a switchover to the other receive path is to be carried out, and terminating the preparatory phase when the criterion parameter again exceeds the first threshold value at least for a predefinable overshoot time interval.

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising while checking whether the switchover is to be carried out, comparing the criterion parameter of the other receive path with the second threshold value, and performing a switchover to the other receive path when the criterion parameter of the other receive path has not dropped below the second threshold value or the underrun of the criterion parameter of the other receive path is less than the underrun of the criterion parameter of the current receive path.

3. The method of claim 1, and further comprising caching information of the audio broadcasting signal that was received during the preparatory phase over the other receive path and that is to be emitted after a possible switchover to the other receive path.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein caching is started, when the other receive path, in which information contained in the audio broadcasting signal is presented with a time offset corresponding to an offset time interval in relation to the presentation of information on the current receive path.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein caching is started, when a receive path for a future emission of the audio broadcasting signal comprises a mobile radio channel.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein caching is started, when a receive path for a future emission of the audio broadcasting signal comprises Internet radio.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein caching is started when enabling a switchover from a broadcast-based receive mode to the Internet radio.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the preparatory phase is terminated when an actual switchover to the other receive path is performed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a switchover from the current receive path to the other receive path takes place depending on whether the second threshold value is underrun by the criterion parameter for at least a predeterminable undershoot time interval.

10. The method of claim 1, and further comprising evaluating as criterion parameters for different receive paths at least one of a respective received field strength, a respective signal-to-noise ratio, a respective bit error rate, a data rate available in a mobile network, a wireless network type, potentially required roaming, a decoder Audio Quality (Service), a Fast Information Channel (FIC), a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), a stereo/mono switchover, and a cost factor that maps resource utilization comprised of at least one of energy consumption, data volume, storage capacity, computation capacity, and monetary costs associated with a particular receive path.

11. The method of claim 1, and further comprising processing as criterion parameters of the different receive paths by way of signal processing steps or calculations, or both, at least one quantity selected from a respective received field strength, a respective signal-to-noise ratio, a respective bit error rate, a data rate available in a mobile network, a wireless network type, potentially required roaming, a decoder Audio Quality (Service), a Fast Information Channel (FIC), a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), a stereo/mono switchover, and a cost factor that maps resource utilization comprised of at least one of energy consumption, data volume, storage capacity, computation capacity, and monetary costs associated with a particular receive path, by taking into consideration a time profile of the at least one quantity.

12. The method of claim 11, and further comprising preventing isolated brief overshoots or undershoots of the first and second threshold values by the criterion parameters or over- or undershoots that occur immediately after a switchover in the time profile.

13. The method of claim 1, and further comprising processing the criterion parameter of the different receive paths as a quantity by also taking into consideration at least one of expected changes in the respective received field strength, a respective signal-to-noise ratio, a respective bit error rate, a data rate available in a mobile network, a wireless network type, potentially required roaming, a Decoder Audio Quality (Service), a Fast Information Channel (FIC), a Received Signal Strength indicator (RSSI), a stereo/mono switchover, and a cost factor that that maps resource utilization comprised of at least one of energy consumption, data volume, storage capacity, computation capacity, and monetary costs associated with a particular receive path.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a switchover to a delayed receive path occurs by way of cross-fading or silencing.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the delayed receive path comprises Internet radio.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein a switchover from a delayed receive path to a delay-free receive path occur either without maintaining a delay or with maintaining the delay, in which case a correlation method and caching of the audio broadcasting signal from the delay-free receive path are used.

17. An information presentation system for acoustic emission of audio broadcasting signals in a vehicle, comprising: at least one acoustic source, a receiver for receiving audio broadcasting signals, and at least a first and at least one second receive path for transmitting audio broadcasting signals to the receiver, wherein the audio broadcasting signals are transmitted to the vehicle and received in the vehicle via the first and the at least one second receive path, wherein the first receive path is evaluated by the receiver by way of at least one criterion parameter based on an audio broadcasting signal received by the receiver, and wherein the at least one second receive path is also evaluated by the receiver by way of a second criterion parameter based on the audio broadcasting signal received by the receiver, wherein the receiver is configured such that during emission of the audio broadcasting signal over one of the first or the at least second receive paths representing a current receive path, a preparatory phase for preparing a switchover from the current receive path to an other receive path is started based on a comparison of a criterion parameter of the current receive path with a first threshold value, and in the preparatory phase the criterion parameter of the current receive path is compared with a second threshold value that is lower than the first threshold value, a check is carried out for switching to the other receive path, and wherein the receiver is further configured to terminate the preparatory phase when the criterion parameter again exceeds the first threshold value at least during a predefined time interval.

18. A vehicle comprising an information presentation system according to claim 17.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be explained below with reference to schematic drawings, which show in:

(2) FIG. 1 a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 an exemplary time profile of two criterion parameters; and

(4) FIG. 3 an exemplary profile of two further criterion parameters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(5) FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. A first step 1 includes here continuously and simultaneously checking the reception quality of the available receive paths, i.e., checking the criterion parameters of all receive paths. In a second step 2, the criterion parameter of the selected receive path, i.e. the receive path currently used for broadcasting, is compared with the predetermined first and second threshold. If the value of the criterion parameter exceeds the first value of the first threshold, no further action is taken and checking of the reception quality is continued in accordance with step 1. If the value of the criterion parameter is between the values of the first and second threshold, a change to the different receive path, or when several possible receive paths exist, to a different receive path is prepared in a further step 3. This includes in particular caching the received audio broadcasting signal received over to the other receive path. Furthermore, checking of the quality of the receive path based on the criterion parameter in step 1 will be continued. If the value of the criterion parameter of the selected receive path is below the value of the second threshold, a switchover to the other receive path is checked and optionally carried out after step 2, in a step 4. In any case, the reception quality of all receive paths is continually checked according to step 1 after the checking and switchover.

(6) For example, digital and analogue (FM) broadcasting and Internet radio may be available as receive paths. The audio broadcasting signal received via digital broadcasting is currently emitted. According to step 1, the quality of all three receive paths is then checked on an ongoing basis based on the criterion parameter. If the criterion parameters of digital broadcasting drops below the first threshold, a switchover to the Internet radio is for example prepared through caching, in step 3. If the reception via digital broadcasting deteriorates further, i.e. when the corresponding criterion parameter drops below the second threshold value, a switchover is checked according to step 4. For example, if in accordance with the criterion parameters, the analog broadcast signal is now to be preferred over the internet radio, a switchover to the analog broadcasting signal may be performed. If the criterion parameter of the analog broadcast signal exceeds the first threshold value, caching according to step 2 is stopped. Should the analog FM signal now deteriorate, another switchover may again be prepared depending on the criterion parameter according to step 3, i.e. for example, caching of the audio broadcasting signal receivable over the Internet may be initiated. If now, in a further deterioration of the analog signal, a switchover is checked according to step 4 and if, for example, the Internet radio is the preferable receive path, then the cached content is accessed and the switchover to Internet radio takes place without any perceptible pause in the acoustic emission of the audio broadcasting signal for the user. Without a preparatory caching, the user would have to wait until the information received via the Internet radio is adequate and can thus be emitted acoustically. For example, it can take up to 30 seconds after setting up a connection to the Internet radio provider, depending on the available connection speed, until the acoustic emission of an audio broadcasting signal received over the Internet can begin, i.e. emission of an audio signal receivable over the Internet. During this time, acoustic emission the audio broadcasting signal would be interrupted.

(7) FIG. 2 shows an exemplary time profile of two different criterion parameters for the same situation. The two criterion parameters are here, for example, the intensity I of an FM broadcast signal and an averaged intensity <I> derived from the intensity I. When the FM broadcast signal deteriorates, a switchover to the Internet radio is contemplated in the present example, while digital broadcast reception is not possible. Both intensities I, <I> are plotted as a function of time t. Also shown are the threshold values S1, S2 associated with the first and second threshold. The threshold value S1 is here greater than the threshold value S2. The two criterion parameters still exceed the threshold value S1 at the times before t1. At a time t1, the first criterion parameter, i.e. the intensity I, drops below the threshold value S1, and rises a little later, at a time t2, again above the threshold value S1. A switchover is hence prepared between the times t1 and t2. Because Internet radio is the alternate receive path, i.e. a good reception quality for Internet radio is assumed in this example and Internet radio is therefore considered for a future switchover, the audio broadcasting signal received via the Internet is cached.

(8) However, this is not desirable here, because a short outlier in the reception quality should not to cause a switchover to another receive path and, consequently also not a preparation for a switchover. The preparatory phase or caching is avoided by using the averaged intensity <I> as a criterion parameter, because of brief drop in the intensity I below the threshold value S1 is not noticeable in the averaged intensity <I>. However, for example, a subsequent, renewed drop in the intensity I below the threshold value S1 at a time t3 is noticeable even when considering the averaged intensity <I>albeit at a time t.sub.A that is slightly offset relative the time t3. This is the case because of the drop in the intensity I below the threshold value S1 at the time t3 is not just a brief Delta-peak-shaped outlier, but represents a longer-lasting decrease in the intensity I. Consequently, it makes sense to prepare for a switchover to another receive path, i.e. to perform caching. This applies here both to the consideration of the averaged intensity <I> as well as to consideration of the intensity I as a criterion parameter. For example, if the intensity I or averaged intensity <I> exceeds the first threshold value S1 after t4 or t.sub.B, the preparatory phase or caching is interrupted because a switchover to a different receive path is no longer expected to be required, and the cached information is discarded. Only after a renewed drop in intensity I or the averaged intensity <I> below the threshold value S1 at the time t5 or t.sub.C, caching is starting again in the present example. If for example outdated cached information still exists in this case, this information is discarded earlier. This causes in the illustrated example at the time t6 and t.sub.D, when the two criterion parameters drop below the second threshold value S2, a switchover to Internet radio as the receive path. The cached audio broadcasting signal can then be instantly accessed, i.e. the audio broadcasting signal received via the Internet radio can be broadcast without an audible delay.

(9) Depending on the user preference and the selected criterion parameters, when the quality of the Internet radio deteriorates or, for example, the intensity of the FM audio broadcasting signal improves, a switchover back to the analog radio receiver path may occur. When switching back, the user can then jump back to the current radio broadcast content that is currently broadcast in analog delay-free FM radio which is timewise ahead of the Internet radio, for example, by way of a button, a Live button.

(10) FIG. 3 shows another exemplary profile of two criterion parameters. For example, analog radio reception via FM is not desirable here, leaving for example DAB as digital broadcasting and Internet radio as receive paths. The intensity I of, for example, the digital broadcast signal DAB or the corresponding averaged intensity <I> is selected as the y-axis and time t as the x-axis. The two threshold values S1 and S2 are also indicated. Initially, i.e. at times before t1, the intensity I and the averaged intensity <I> are still above the threshold value S1, which however changes at the time t1 or t.sub.A. The strongly fluctuating intensity I and consequently also the averaged intensity <I> decrease after the times t1 or t.sub.A from below the first threshold value S1 almost to the second threshold value S2, which triggers in the present example, with the Internet radio as an alternate receive path, caching of the audio broadcasting signal received via the Internet radio, since a good reception quality for the Internet radio is assumed in this example. The intensity I crosses the threshold value S2 at the closely-spaced successive time instants t2, t3, t4 and t5 multiple times. This can cause a multiple switchover in quick succession between the different receive paths, the so-called. ping-pong effect, which is very annoying for the user. This is in the present example avoided from the outset by using the averaged intensity <I> as a criterion parameter, because the averaged intensity <I> does not follow the short-term fluctuations of the intensity I and therefore does not cross the second threshold S2 at the corresponding times t2, t3, t4 and t5. At or after the time t5, selection of the intensity I as a criterion parameter would have already caused repeated switching back and forth between, in the present case, DAB and the Internet radio. This is prevented, for example, by selecting the averaged intensity <I> as the criterion parameter.

(11) After time t5, the intensity I rises again, and briefly rises even to a value above the first threshold value S1 between the immediately successive points in time t6 and t7. The averaged intensity value <I> follows this discontinuous increase only with a delay and does not exceed the first threshold value S1. The choice of the intensity I as a criterion parameter causes caching to be paused or stopped at the time t6 because the threshold value S1 is exceeded. Since the intensity I again drops sharply after a very brief recovery between t6 and the immediately following time t7 and drops below the threshold value S2 at a time t8, stopping caching can have adverse consequencesfor example, when not enough time has passed between the two points in time t7 and t8 to completely fill the buffer again. In this case, there is not sufficient information in the buffer when switching to the Internet radio so that the user may be forced to accept an interruption in the broadcast audio broadcasting signal during a switchover, wherein the duration of the interruption is determined, for example, by a technically required further caching. Using the averaged intensity <I> prevents the threshold value S1 from being briefly exceeded by a Delta-peak-shaped signal, and the signals from the internet radio are not interrupted at t6 due to cashing. For example, when the averaged intensity <I> drops at the time t.sub.B, which corresponds to the drop in the intensity I at the time t8, no renewed cashing is required, i.e. the user is immediately supplied with information from the Internet radio without an audible pause via the cached audio broadcasting signal.

(12) If, for example, the DAB signal is again available with adequate intensity I at a later time, a switchover from the Internet radio back to DAB reception may be desired due to cost reasons. This is implemented, for example, by taking into account the effect of the costs on the criterion parameter. Like the FM audio broadcasting signal which cannot be selected in the present example, the DAB audio broadcasting signal is also timewise ahead of the Internet audio broadcasting signal in general, so that information can be skipped when switching from Internet radio to DAB as the receive path. However, for example, the DAB audio broadcasting signal may also be cached and the same audio broadcasting signal may be switched inaudibly from Internet radio to DAB as a receive path, for example, by way of a correlation method. In this case, the audio broadcasting signal received via DAB is broadcast acoustically with a delay to the identical to the audio broadcasting signal previously received via Internet radio.