Method, computer-readable medium, system, and vehicle for operating a digital auxiliary device of a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for operating a digital assistance device of a vehicle, the method comprising: receiving a status of the digital assistance device; ascertaining a display device for displaying the status of the digital assistance device; ascertaining at least one display parameter of the display device; generating an animated visual graphic object based on the status of the digital assistance device, the display device and the at least one display parameter; and providing the animated visual graphic object on the display device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating a digital assistant device of a vehicle, a computer-readable medium for operating a digital assistant device of a vehicle, a system for operating a digital assistant device of a vehicle, and a vehicle comprising the system for operating a digital assistant device of a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Digital assistants are known from the prior art that can communicate with a vehicle user using a voice interface. These assistants can be activated via icons or voice-based control inputs. Furthermore, it is known from the prior art to display visual instructions based on the voice output of the digital assistant. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the present invention aims to operate a digital assistance device in a vehicle more efficiently. In particular, the present invention aims to more efficiently communicate the status of the digital assistance device to a user of the vehicle, and in particular to a user of the digital assistance device in the vehicle, thereby enabling simpler operation of the human-machine interface between the user and the digital assistance device in the vehicle.

[0004] To this end, the present invention proposes a method for operating a digital assistance device of a vehicle, the method comprising:

[0005] receiving the status of the digital assistance device;

[0006] Ascertaining a display device for displaying a status of the digital assistance device, wherein the display device is a display of a mobile terminal device, the display being associated with the vehicle; and / or the display device is a display of the vehicle, the display being fixedly connected to the vehicle;

[0007] ascertaining at least one display parameter of the display device;

[0008] generating a control object for an animated visual according to a state of the digital assistant device, the display device, and the at least one display parameter, the control object for generating the animated visual comprising: generating a plurality of animated particle objects according to the at least one display parameter of the display device, wherein the plurality of animated particle objects are generated at a particle density determined according to the at least one display parameter of the display device and the display device; and

[0009] A control object that provides a visual representation of the animation on a display device.

[0010] According to a first aspect, the present invention is characterized by a method for operating a digital assistant device for a vehicle. The method can be computer-implemented and / or control-device-implemented. The digital assistant device can be an intelligent personal assistant (IPA) for the vehicle. The vehicle can be a semi-automated, highly automated, or fully automated vehicle. In particular, the vehicle can be a semi-automated, highly automated, or fully automated motor vehicle. The method includes receiving a status of the digital assistant device. The method also includes determining a display device for displaying the status of the digital assistant device and determining at least one display parameter of the display device. The method generates an animated visual control object based on the status of the digital assistant device, the display device, and the at least one display parameter. The method provides the animated visual control object on the display device.

[0011] Advantageously, the method can dynamically generate animated visual control objects that are adapted to the display device on which the animated visual control objects are presented. A vehicle digital assistant can be operated such that a user of the vehicle digital assistant is presented with animated visual control objects that represent the state of the digital assistant and are dynamically adapted to the display device.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the state of the digital assistant device can represent the state of interaction between the user and the digital assistant device, the state of a conversation between the user and the digital assistant device, and / or the data processing state of the digital assistant device. This allows the animated visual control object to be flexibly adapted to the different states of the digital assistant device and these states to be efficiently presented to the vehicle user.

[0013] According to another advantageous embodiment, the display device can be a display of a mobile terminal device associated with the vehicle, and / or the display device can be a display of the vehicle, which is permanently connected to the vehicle. This allows the status of the digital assistant device to be efficiently displayed on different display devices.

[0014] According to another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the at least one display parameter may include the size of a preferably virtual display surface of a display device, the display surface being used to render the animated visual control object; and / or the at least one display parameter may include the maximum resolution of the display device, at which the animated visual control object is rendered by the display device. This allows the animated visual control object to be efficiently adapted to the display device.

[0015] According to another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the animated visual control object may include multiple animated particle objects, and / or each of the multiple animated particle objects may have a graphical form and a motion pattern. This allows the animated visual control object to be efficiently adapted to the state of the digital assistant device.

[0016] According to another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, generating an animated visual control object based on the state of the digital assistant device, the display device, and the at least one display parameter may include generating a plurality of animated particle objects based on the at least one display parameter of the display device, wherein a shape, size, depth of field parameter, and initial position in a predetermined grid are determined for each animated particle object based on the at least one display parameter of the display device and the display device, and wherein the plurality of animated particle objects are generated at a particle density determined based on the at least one display parameter of the display device and the display device. This allows the animated visual control object to be efficiently matched to the display device.

[0017] According to another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, generating an animated visual control object based on the state of the digital assistant device, the display device, and the at least one display parameter may further include determining a motion mode for each of the plurality of animated particle objects based on the state of the digital assistant device, wherein the motion mode preferably specifies dynamics, motion, and / or depth of field based on the state of the digital assistant device. This allows the animated visual control object to be efficiently adapted to the state of the digital assistant device.

[0018] According to another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, generating an animated visual control object based on the state of the digital assistant device, the display device, and the at least one display parameter may further include: determining a graphical pattern of the control object for the plurality of animated particle objects based on the state of the digital assistant device, wherein the graphical pattern of the control object specifies a target position for the movement of each of the plurality of animated particle objects, each of the plurality of animated particle objects moving to the target position using a corresponding movement pattern, and wherein the graphical pattern of the animated visual control object preferably represents a function of the animated visual control object and / or represents information that the animated visual control object provides to a user of the digital assistant device. This allows the animated visual control object to be efficiently adapted to the state of the digital assistant device.

[0019] According to another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the graphic form and motion pattern of each animated particle object can be determined based on one or more vehicle-specific parameters, thereby enabling the motion pattern of the animated visual control object to be efficiently adapted to the vehicle-specific context.

[0020] According to another aspect, the invention features a computer-readable medium for operating a digital auxiliary device of a vehicle, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises instructions which, when executed on a computer or a control device, implement the method described above.

[0021] According to another aspect, the present invention is characterized by a system for operating a digital auxiliary device of a vehicle, wherein the system is designed to carry out the method described above.

[0022] According to another aspect, the invention features a vehicle that includes the system described above for operating a digital assistant for the vehicle.

[0023] Further features of the invention are apparent from the drawings and the description thereof. All features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the drawings and / or shown individually in the drawings can be used not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combinations or individually. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with the aid of the accompanying drawings. Further details, preferred embodiments and further developments of the present invention are derived from this. A detailed schematic diagram is shown:

[0025] Figure 1 An exemplary method for operating a digital assistant of a vehicle is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Figure 1 An exemplary method 100 for operating a digital assistant device for a vehicle is shown in detail. Method 100 may receive 102 a state of a digital assistant device. The state of the digital assistant device may represent a state of interaction between a user and the digital assistant device, a state of a conversation between the user and the digital assistant device, and / or a data processing state of the digital assistant device. Additionally, the state of the digital assistant device may be associated with an emotion and / or behavior.

[0027] Method 100 may determine 104 one or more display devices for displaying the status of the digital assistant device. Preferably, each display device is a display device of the vehicle or a mobile terminal device communicatively connected to the vehicle. Furthermore, method 100 may include determining 106 at least one display parameter, preferably multiple display parameters, of the respective display device. For example, a display parameter may be the size or resolution of a display surface of the display device.

[0028] The method may further generate 108 an animated visual control object based on the state of the digital assistant, the display device, and the at least one display parameter. The animated visual control object may represent the state of the digital assistant and may contextually inform a user of the digital assistant about the state of the digital assistant using different emotions and / or behaviors. For example, the animated visual control object may inform the user that the digital assistant is listening, thinking, talking, acknowledging, expressing emotion, and / or requesting action.

[0029] Specifically, the animated visual control object may include multiple animated particle objects. Each animated particle object may have a graphic form and a motion mode. The graphic form may be determined by method 100 based on vehicle-specific parameters. For example, the graphic form may be determined based on vehicle type, vehicle configuration, and / or vehicle-specific functions. The motion mode may be determined for each animated particle object based on the state of the digital assistant device. The motion mode may specify dynamics, motion, and / or depth of field based on the state of the digital assistant device.

[0030] The number of particle objects in a plurality of animated particle objects can be ascertained based on one or more display parameters of a display device. If, for example, the display parameters indicate that there is a display surface for a small number of particle objects, for example, less than 10 particle objects, then a corresponding number of animated particle objects can be generated using the method. For example, when generating the plurality of animated particle objects, the shape, size, depth of field parameters, and initial position in a predetermined grid can be determined for each animated particle object based on one or more display parameters of the display device and, in particular, the type of display device. Furthermore, the method can specify the particle density with which the animated particle objects are to be generated, wherein the particle density is determined based on one or more display parameters of the display device and, in particular, the type of display device.

[0031] Furthermore, a graphical pattern of a control object can be determined for the plurality of animated particle objects based on the state of the digital assistant device. The graphical pattern of the animated visual control object can specify a target position for the movement of each of the plurality of animated particle objects, to which each of the plurality of animated particle objects moves using a corresponding movement pattern. Furthermore, the graphical pattern of the animated visual control object can preferably represent a function of the animated visual control object and / or information that the animated visual control object provides to a user of the digital assistant device.

[0032] The method 100 may finally provide the animated visual control object on the display device.Providing the animated visual control object on the display device may implement the previously generated animated visual control object.

[0033] Advantageously, animated visual control objects do not need to be predefined for each display device. Instead, they can be dynamically adapted to the display device, allowing them to be provided on different display devices. By using multiple particle objects to generate the animated visual control objects, the visual control objects can be flexibly adapted to different vehicles and vehicle configurations. When changing vehicles, users do not need to relearn how to interact with the digital assistant because the animated visual control objects can be adapted to the respective vehicle environment, and the animated visual control objects simplify operation of the digital assistant. Consequently, information about the status of the digital assistant can be provided to the user of the digital assistant more efficiently, and in particular, more simply. The digital assistant can operate more efficiently in the vehicle because the user can more easily understand information about the status of the digital assistant using the animated visual control objects.

[0034] Reference Signs List

[0035] 100 Methods

[0036] 102 Receive status of digital assistant device

[0037] 104 Identify the display device

[0038] 106 Identify at least one display parameter

[0039] 108 Visual control objects for generating animations

[0040] 110 provides visual control objects for animation

Claims

1. A method for operating a digital assistance device of a vehicle, the method comprising: receiving the status of the digital assistance device; Ascertaining one or more display devices for displaying a status of the digital assistance device, wherein the display device is a display of the vehicle and the display is fixedly connected to the vehicle; ascertaining at least one display parameter of the display device; Generating an animated visual control object according to a state of the digital assistant device, the display device, and the at least one display parameter, the animated visual control object comprising a plurality of animated particle objects so that the animated visual control object can be flexibly matched to a vehicle and different configurations of the vehicle, generating the animated visual control object comprising: generating the plurality of animated particle objects according to the at least one display parameter of the display device, wherein the plurality of animated particle objects are generated with a particle density determined according to the at least one display parameter of the display device and the display device; and A control object that provides a visual representation of the animation on a display device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The state of the digital assistant device represents a state of interaction between the user and the digital assistant device, a state of a dialog between the user and the digital assistant device, and / or a data processing state of the digital assistant device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The at least one display parameter comprises a size of a display surface of a display device, the display surface being used to provide the animated visual control object; and / or The at least one display parameter comprises a maximum resolution of the display device, at which maximum resolution the animated visual control object is provided by the display device.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Each animated particle object of the plurality of animated particle objects has a graphical form and a motion pattern.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The control object for generating an animated visual according to the state of the digital auxiliary device, the display device and the at least one display parameter includes: determining the shape, size, depth of field parameters and initial position of each animated particle object in a predetermined grid according to the at least one display parameter of the display device and the display device.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The control object for generating an animated visual according to the state of the digital assistant device, the display device and the at least one display parameter further comprises: A motion mode is determined for each of the plurality of animated particle objects based on a state of the digital assistant device.

7. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The control object for generating an animated visual according to the state of the digital assistant device, the display device and the at least one display parameter further comprises: A graphic pattern of an animated visual control object is determined for the plurality of animated particle objects according to a state of the digital assistant device, wherein the graphic pattern of the animated visual control object gives a target position for the movement of each of the plurality of animated particle objects, and each of the plurality of animated particle objects moves to the target position with the aid of a corresponding movement pattern.

8. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The graphical form and motion pattern of each animated particle object is determined according to one or more vehicle-specific parameters.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein: The display surface is a virtual display surface.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein: The motion mode specifies dynamics, motion and / or depth of field depending on the state of the digital assistant device.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein: The graphical pattern of the animated visual control object represents a function of the animated visual control object and / or represents information that the animated visual control object provides to a user of the digital assistance device.

12. A computer-readable medium for operating a digital assistant for a vehicle, wherein: The computer-readable medium comprises instructions which, when executed on a computer or a control device, implement the method according to one of claims 1 to 11 .

13. A system for operating a digital auxiliary device of a vehicle, wherein: The system is designed to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 11 . 14 . A vehicle comprising the system for operating a digital assistant device for a vehicle according to claim 13 .

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