Method and system for in-vehicle information flow

Abstract

The invention provides a method and a system for in-vehicle information flow. According to the invention, based on the predefined information flow rule, the following information flow modes are adopted to enable the information to be displayed on various vehicle-mounted display screens (such as a central information display screen, a co-driver display screen and a rear seat display screen) / display areas (such as a central information display screen, a co-driver display screen and a rear seat display screen). The information flows between the display area of the head-up display device and the display area of the panoramic head-up display device in a top-down information flowing mode, a bottom-up information flowing mode, a horizontal information flowing mode or a front-back information flowing mode. In addition, a cross-platform information flow mode can be adopted, so that the intelligent equipment carried by the user can perform information interaction with the screen of the vehicle-mounted system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to in-vehicle information display technology, and more particularly, to a method and system for in-vehicle information flow. Background Art

[0002] At present, with the advancement of technology, the types of in-vehicle display screens for users (e.g., drivers, passengers) to view information in vehicles are becoming increasingly diverse. For example, front-seat users (e.g., drivers, front passenger seat passengers) can view information through projections generated by head-up display devices (HUDs), central information displays (CIDs), etc., while rear-seat passengers can view information through rear-seat displays. These in-vehicle display screens can display different and / or the same information to users under the control of the in-vehicle system.

[0003] However, the information displayed on these screens is independent of each other, so when one screen displays too much content, the user cannot get a good experience. In addition, currently, the front passenger usually views information through the same HUD projection and CID as the driver, and there is no independent display screen for the front passenger.

[0004] Therefore, a smart information flow solution is needed to enable information to flow seamlessly and smoothly between different types of display screens, so that the driver, front passenger and rear passengers can view various information more conveniently and comfortably. Summary of the invention

[0005] This Summary is provided to introduce some concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0006] The present invention provides a method and system for in-vehicle information flow. The present invention can use the following information flow modes based on predefined information flow rules to allow information to flow between various types of vehicle-mounted display screens (e.g., central information display screen, co-pilot display screen, rear seat display screen) / display areas (e.g., head-up display device display area, panoramic head-up display device display area): top-down information flow mode, bottom-up information flow mode, horizontal information flow mode, or front-to-back information flow mode. In addition, the present invention can also use a cross-platform information flow mode to enable the smart device carried by the user to interact with the screen of the vehicle-mounted system.

[0007] A method for information flow within a vehicle is provided, the vehicle comprising one or more on-board display screens and / or one or more display areas, the method comprising: triggering one of one or more information flow modes based on one or more predefined information flow rules, the one or more information flow modes defining how information flows between the one or more on-board display screens and / or the one or more display areas or how information flows between a smart device connected to an on-board system and the one or more on-board display screens and / or the one or more display areas; and flowing information from a current display screen or display area to one or more other display screens or display areas based on the triggered information flow mode.

[0008] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a system for information flow within a vehicle is provided, the vehicle comprising one or more on-board display screens and / or one or more display areas, the system comprising: an information flow control module, the information flow control module being configured to control the information flow between the one or more on-board display screens and / or the one or more display areas within the vehicle or the information flow between a smart device connected to the on-board system and the one or more on-board display screens and / or the one or more display areas; and an information flow triggering module, the information flow triggering module being configured to trigger one of one or more information flow modes based on one or more predefined information flow rules, the one or more information flow modes defining how information flows between the one or more on-board display screens or the one or more display areas or how information flows between a smart device connected to the on-board system and the one or more on-board display screens or the one or more display areas.

[0009] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle is provided, comprising: one or more vehicle-mounted display screens and / or one or more display areas; and the system as described above.

[0010] These and other features and advantages will become apparent by reading the following detailed description and by reference to the associated drawings.It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are illustrative only and are not restrictive of the aspects of what is claimed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In order to understand the manner in which the above features of the present invention are used in detail, the above briefly summarized contents can be described in more detail with reference to various embodiments, some of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings only show some typical aspects of the present invention and should not be considered to limit its scope, because the description may allow for other equally effective aspects.

[0012] Figure 1 A schematic diagram 100 is shown of a display area and / or display screen in a vehicle for displaying information according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2 A block diagram of a system 200 for information flow within a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0014] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of data flow from top to bottom of information flow according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0015] Figure 4 A data flow diagram showing bottom-up information flow according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 5 A data flow diagram showing horizontal information flow according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 6 A data flow diagram showing the flow of information before and after according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 7 A data flow diagram showing cross-platform information flow according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 8 A flow chart of a method 800 for information flow within a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0020] Fig. 9 A schematic diagram showing a vehicle 900 according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0021] Fig.10 A block diagram of an exemplary computing device according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the features of the present invention will be further revealed in the following specific description.

[0023] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings showing exemplary embodiments of the present invention. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but is defined by the appended claims. Therefore, embodiments other than those shown in the drawings, such as modified versions of the illustrated embodiments, are still encompassed by the present invention.

[0024] References in this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "an example embodiment," etc., mean that the embodiment may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, these phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in conjunction with an embodiment, it should be understood that the particular feature, structure, or characteristic can be implemented in conjunction with other embodiments within the knowledge of a person skilled in the relevant art, whether or not explicitly described.

[0025] For ease of explanation, this document only describes in detail an embodiment in which the technical solution of the present invention is applied to a "vehicle", but those skilled in the art can fully understand that the technical solution of the present invention can be applied to any means of transportation such as trains, subways, ships, etc. where there may be a meeting of vehicles. Unless otherwise specified, the term "A or B" used in this specification refers to "A and B" and "A or B", rather than A and B being exclusive.

[0026] Related terms:

[0027] HUD (heads-up display): HUD can use the principle of optical reflection to project information (such as vehicle speed, navigation reminders, etc.) to a certain distance in front of the driver (for example, the front windshield of the vehicle or a transparent medium). As a result, HUD can help the driver keep his sight on the road ahead and minimize the time the driver's sight is away from the lane ahead. In the context of this application, the projection range generated by HUD is referred to as the "HUD display area".

[0028] PHUD (panoramic heads-up display): PHUD is similar to HUD, but can be understood as an enlarged version of HUD in terms of projection size. Specifically, HUD generally projects information to a certain distance in front of the driver, while PHUD can project information to a range spanning from the front of the driver to the front of the front passenger, so that both the driver and the front passenger can view it through the PHUD. In the context of this application, the projection range generated by PHUD is referred to as the "PHUD display area".

[0029] CID (central information display): CID is generally located on the driver's right hand side (for example, between the driver's seat and the front passenger seat) and displays content related to the vehicle's status, control, navigation, etc.

[0030] CDD (co-driver display): CDD is installed on the left side, in front of or other suitable position of the co-pilot passenger so that the co-pilot passenger can easily view information through the CDD.

[0031] RSD (rear seat display): Rear seat display may refer to a screen installed in a suitable position for viewing by rear seat passengers.

[0032] User: In the context of this application, a user may refer to the driver, front passenger and / or rear seat passenger.

[0033] Figure 1 A schematic diagram 100 is shown of a display area and / or a display screen in a vehicle for displaying information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] See also Figure 1 , reference numeral 101 denotes a HUD display area, which is displayed in an area in front of the driver (e.g., a front windshield of the vehicle or a transparent medium) by projection. The size and shape of the HUD display area 101 are merely illustrative, and it may have any suitable size and / or shape without blocking the driver's sight.

[0035] Reference numeral 102 denotes a PHUD display area, which is displayed in an area (eg, a front windshield or a transparent medium of a vehicle) extending continuously from the front of the driver to the front of the front passenger by means of projection. Figure 1 In the PHUD display area, the PHUD display area is further divided into three PHUD sub-display areas, each of which can be independently controlled to display the same or different information for the driver and / or the front passenger. For example, the driver can mainly use the left PHUD sub-display area, the front passenger can mainly use the right PHUD sub-display area, and the middle PHUD sub-display area can be shared by both the driver and the front passenger. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that Figure 1 The division method of the PHUD sub-display area is only schematic, and the PHUD display area can be divided into a different number of sub-display areas according to actual needs, and each sub-display area can have a different size and / or length.

[0036] Reference numeral 103 denotes a central information display screen CID, and reference numeral 104 denotes a co-pilot display screen CDD. In practice, the CID may be installed on the right hand side of the driver, and the CDD may be installed on the left or in front of the co-pilot passenger. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that Figure 1The sizes and shapes of 103 and 104 shown in the figure are merely illustrative and can be installed in any suitable position without hindering the behavior of the driver and / or the front passenger.

[0037] Reference numeral 105 is a rear seat display screen RSD. The RSD may be installed in front of, above, or on an armrest of a rear seat passenger. Figure 1 Only one RSD is shown in the figure, but those skilled in the art will fully appreciate that the number of RSDs is not limited. For example, a vehicle may be equipped with a number of RSDs corresponding to the number of passengers that can sit in the rear row, and each RSD may independently display different information.

[0038] In addition, reference numeral 106 shows a smart device connected to the vehicle system, but the smart device is not used as a vehicle-mounted device, but is brought into the vehicle by the user, and is only shown as a device that can flow information. Figure 1 The positions in the figure are merely illustrative, that is, the smart device can be located anywhere in the car.

[0039] In general, schematic diagram 100 is merely a schematic illustration of the relative positional relationship of various display screens and / or display areas in a vehicle, and does not constitute a specific limitation on the size, shape, and position of these display screens and / or display areas.

[0040] Figure 2 A block diagram of a system 200 for information flow in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. As shown in the figure, the system 200 mainly includes an information flow control module 205 and an information flow trigger module 210. It is fully understood by those skilled in the art that the system 200 can be integrated with an existing vehicle-mounted system in a vehicle or implemented as a separate system. In addition, it is fully understood by those skilled in the art that the division of the above modules is only explained for the purpose of clarity. The functions of one or more of the above modules can be combined into a single module or split into more modules / sub-modules. Moreover, one or more of the above modules can be implemented in software, hardware or a combination thereof. In addition, the data flow method between the modules can adopt a method known in the art, which is not discussed in the present invention.

[0041] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the information flow control module 205 can be configured to enable users (such as drivers, front passenger passengers, rear seat passengers, etc.) to control the flow of information in the vehicle. As can be understood by those skilled in the art, the information displayed in various display screens and / or display areas can be of various types and can be different based on the specific applications of the vehicle-mounted system. For example, in general, the HUD display area can display brief information related to vehicle information, such as vehicle speed, fuel consumption, etc. The PHUD display area is larger in size than the HUD display area, so more information can be displayed for other passengers in the car to view, for example, navigation information, entertainment information, news, lyrics, etc. can be displayed. The CID display screen generally displays control functions, application information, etc. for the vehicle. The CDD display screen generally displays information for the front passenger, and can also display navigation information of the vehicle, etc. so that the front passenger can assist the driver in route selection. The RSD display screen generally displays information for the rear seat passengers, such as control functions for the rear seat, content selected by the rear seat passengers, etc.

[0042] Of course, the above description is merely illustrative, and the contents displayed on each display screen / display area may be interchangeable and / or identical, or may be different depending on the application of the vehicle-mounted system. For example, the HUD display area generally does not display content related to entertainment / gaming due to its small size, while other display screens may display content related to entertainment / gaming. The present invention is not intended to limit the contents displayed on each display screen / display area.

[0043] In this application, four information flow modes are defined according to the physical spatial position relationship between various screens, namely: top-down information flow mode, bottom-up information flow mode, horizontal information flow mode and front-to-back information flow mode. In addition, in this application, cross-platform information flow modes are defined according to different platforms (e.g., systems). Specifically, these information flow modes define how information flows between one or more vehicle-mounted display screens or display areas or how information flows between a smart device connected to a vehicle-mounted system and the one or more vehicle-mounted display screens or display areas.

[0044] In the context of the present application, information "flowing" from a first display screen or display area to a second display screen or display area may mean any of the following three situations: (1) the content displayed on the first display screen / display area is directly displayed on the second display screen / display area, so that the first display screen / display area and the second display screen / display area display the same content; (2) the content displayed on the second display screen / display area is related to the content displayed on the first display screen / display area, or the content displayed on the second display screen / display area is a supplement or expansion of the content displayed on the first display screen / display area; (3) the user can select the content to be displayed on the second display screen / display area through the first display screen / display area. In situations (2) and (3), the first display screen / display area and the second display screen / display area display different content.

[0045] In the context of the present application, information "flowing" from a smart device connected to the in-vehicle system to one or more of the display screens / display areas may mean either of the following two situations: (1) the one or more display screens / display areas may display information or visual effects indicating the status of the smart device; (2) the one or more display screens / display areas may display information or visual effects related to the application currently used by the smart device.

[0046] The following is a further description of the above five information flow modes.

[0047] In the top-down information flow mode, information can flow downward from the PHUD display area to the central information display screen CID and / or the co-pilot display screen CDD. Since the PHUD display area is located above the CID and / or CDD in space, this information flow mode is called the top-down information flow mode.

[0048] In the bottom-up information flow mode, information can flow upward from the central information display CID and / or the co-pilot display CDD to the PHUD display area.

[0049] In the horizontal information flow mode, there may be two sub-modes. The first sub-mode may be referred to as the PHUD display area horizontal information flow sub-mode, that is, information may flow between multiple sub-display areas in the PHUD display area. The second sub-mode may be referred to as the front display screen horizontal information flow sub-mode, that is, information may flow between the central information display screen CID and the co-pilot display screen CDD. Since the spatial position relationship between the multiple sub-display areas of the PHUD display area is horizontal, and the spatial position relationship between the central information display screen CID and the co-pilot display screen CDD may also be considered to be roughly horizontal, these two information flow modes both belong to the horizontal information flow mode.

[0050] In the front-to-back information flow mode, information can flow between the HUD display area, PHUD display area, CID and / or CDD and the rear seat display screen RSD. Since the HUD display area, PHUD display area, CID and / or CDD can be regarded as being in front of the RSD in terms of spatial position, this information flow mode is called the front-to-back information flow mode.

[0051] In the cross-platform information flow mode, information can flow between smart devices connected to the in-vehicle system in the vehicle (for example, smart devices carried by the driver / co-pilot passenger / backseat passenger (such as mobile phones, tablets, notebooks, etc.)) and various display screens / display areas in the vehicle. For example, the various display screens / display areas in the car can display various visual effects to reflect the status of the smart device (for example, connected to the in-vehicle system, charging, etc.) or display information related to the application currently used by the smart device (for example, the lyrics of the song currently playing on the mobile phone, etc.) or visual effects. Those skilled in the art will understand that smart devices can be connected to the in-vehicle system in a variety of ways. For example, smart devices can be connected to the in-vehicle system via Bluetooth, via the Internet and / or through an application. The way in which smart devices are connected to the in-vehicle system is not within the scope of protection of this application.

[0052] Specifically, the information flow control module 205 may be configured to present controls and / or options that can be manipulated by the user to control the information flow on one or more of the various display screens and / or display areas. For example, the controls and / or options presented by the information flow control module 205 may be manipulated by the user to select one or more display screens and / or display areas or smart devices connected in the vehicle to join and / or exit the information flow (i.e., the display screen and / or display area is used or not used for information flow), or the controls and / or options presented by the information flow control module 205 may be manipulated by the user to enable and / or disable a certain information flow mode.

[0053] For example, if there are no rear seat passengers, the user can turn off the "front and rear information flow mode" so that information does not flow to the rear seat display screen. For another example, if a passenger is more concerned about privacy, he or she can disable the "cross-platform information flow mode" so that even if the smart device carried by the passenger is connected to the vehicle system, information flow from the smart device to the various display screens / display areas in the vehicle will not be performed. For another example, if the front passenger passenger wants to watch a movie on the front passenger display screen CDD that he or she is using without interruption, he or she can choose to withdraw the CDD from the information flow.

[0054] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the information flow trigger module 210 may be configured to trigger one of the information flow modes based on one or more predefined information flow rules. Generally speaking, the one or more predefined information flow rules include information flow rules for the above five information flow modes.

[0055] In general, one or more predefined information flow rules may include but are not limited to: a display screen / display area is not sufficient to display complete information so that one or more other display screens / display areas are needed to expand the display screen / display area; the content displayed on a display screen / display area requires one or more other display screens / display areas to display content associated with the content; the user makes a gesture to "drop" / "grab" the content of a display screen or display area to another display screen / display area; the user selects a function control on a display screen / display area to display the content displayed on the display screen / display area to one or more other display screens / display areas; the content displayed on a display screen / display area needs to be confirmed by another user through another display screen / display area; and the smart device is connected to the vehicle system. Of course, the predefined information flow rules shown above are only illustrative, and different information flow rules can be formulated according to the applications of the vehicle system.

[0056] The following describes one or more predefined information flow rules in conjunction with some usage scenarios.

[0057] According to one embodiment of the present invention, one or more predefined information flow rules may include a top-down information flow rule for a top-down information flow mode, wherein the top-down information flow rule specifies a situation in which information displayed in the PHUD display area may flow downward to the central information display screen CID and / or the co-pilot display screen CDD. For example, the top-down information flow rule may specify that if the PHUD display area is not sufficient to display the complete information, a portion of the information to be displayed may flow downward to be displayed on the CID or CDD.

[0058] For example, refer to Figure 3, which shows a data flow diagram of top-down information flow according to an embodiment of the present invention. Assuming that the PHUD display area is displaying the nearby parking lot information recommended by the vehicle system, if the relevant recommended contextual information cannot be fully and / or completely displayed in the PHUD display area, then these detailed contextual information will flow downward to be displayed on the CID, for example, because the CID has more sufficient space to display more recommended contextual information, perhaps in combination with a graphical map illustration. In some other embodiments, the detailed contextual information may also flow downward to be displayed on the CDD, so that the front passenger can also view the relevant recommended information to assist the driver in selecting and / or navigating the parking lot.

[0059] According to one embodiment of the present invention, one or more predefined information flow rules may include a bottom-up information flow rule for a bottom-up information flow mode, and the bottom-up information flow rule stipulates that information displayed in the central information display screen CID and / or the co-pilot display screen CDD may flow upward to the PHUD display area. For example, the bottom-up information flow rule may stipulate that based on a detected user gesture, the information displayed in the central information display screen CID and / or the co-pilot display screen CDD or a portion of the information flows upward to the PHUD display area to be displayed at a position in the PHUD display area suitable for viewing by the user.

[0060] For example, refer to Figure 4 , which shows a data flow diagram of bottom-up information flow according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. Figure 4 It mainly describes the scenario where users use gestures to make information flow between display screens. In the top-down information flow mode or the bottom-up information flow mode, the PHUD display area and CID / CDD can be viewed as a whole. The PHUD display area is more like an extended screen of the CID / CDD, which can ensure that the driver can drive safely without lowering his head.

[0061] exist Figure 4-1 In the PHUD display area, users can quickly and concisely display the content displayed on the CID / CDD display screen by using the "airdrop" gesture in the air. For example, the driver can project the content displayed on the CID display screen to the middle sub-display area in the PHUD display area by using the "airdrop" gesture to facilitate their own viewing. At this time, the content displayed in the left and right sub-display areas of the PHUD display area remains unchanged.

[0062] exist Figure 4-2In the PHUD display area, the user can use the "grab" gesture in the air to grab a portion of the content displayed on the CID / CDD display and display it in the PHUD display area. For example, the front passenger can grab a portion of the content on the CID display or CDD display and release it to the right sub-display area in the PHUD display area (for example, grab the weather information displayed on the CID display or CDD display and release it to the right sub-display area in the PHUD display area).

[0063] In one example, depending on the amount of content displayed in the CID / CDD display screen and the size of the PHUD display area, all content / all content captured by the user can be displayed directly in the PHUD display area, or an overview of these contents can be displayed in the PHUD display area.

[0064] According to one embodiment of the present invention, one or more predefined information flow rules may include a horizontal information flow rule for a horizontal information flow mode, which horizontal information flow rule stipulates circumstances under which information displayed in a PHUD display area can flow among multiple sub-display areas of the PHUD display area, and circumstances under which information can flow between a central information display screen CID and a co-pilot display screen CDD.

[0065] For example, refer to Figure 5 , which shows a data flow diagram of horizontal information flow according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

[0066] Figure 5-1 Figure 2 shows the information flow between the PHUD display sub-areas. Figure 5-1 In the PHUD display area, there are three sub-display areas. The top example shows the flow of information between the left display sub-area of ​​the PHUD and the middle display sub-area of ​​the PHUD (for example, navigation information flows from the left display sub-area of ​​the PHUD to the middle display sub-area of ​​the PHUD, so that the middle display sub-area of ​​the PHUD can display a supplement or extension of the content displayed in the left display sub-area of ​​the PHUD); the middle example shows the flow of information between the middle display sub-area of ​​the PHUD and the right display sub-area of ​​the PHUD (for example: the front passenger redefines the destination navigation on the right display sub-area of ​​the PHUD, and the driver needs to confirm on the left display sub-area of ​​the PHUD); the bottom example shows the flow of information on the entire PHUD display area (for example, a welcome / farewell scene displayed on the entire PHUD display area or an entertainment / gamification display extended on the entire PHUD display area).

[0067] Figure 5-2 Figure 2 shows the information flow between CID and CDD. Figure 5-2In the process, the song or MV being played is displayed on the CID display screen. At this time, the lyrics or related introduction of the song or MV can flow to the CDD display screen for the convenience of the co-pilot passenger to view.

[0068] According to one embodiment of the present invention, one or more predefined information flow rules may include a front-to-back information flow rule for a front-to-back information flow mode, and the front-to-back information flow rule stipulates the situations in which information can flow between the HUD display area, the PHUD display area, the CID and / or the CDD and the rear seat display screen RSD. For example, the front-to-back information flow rule may stipulate that: the content displayed on the rear seat display screen needs to be confirmed by another user through any one of the HUD display area, the PHUD display area, the CID and / or the CDD; the content displayed on the rear seat display screen needs to be shared to any one of the HUD display area, the PHUD display area, the CID and / or the CDD for another user to view; if the user selects a function control on any one of the HUD display area, the PHUD display area, the CID and / or the CDD to share the content displayed on the display screen / display area to the rear seat display screen, then the content flows to the rear seat display screen for display.

[0069] For example, refer to Figure 6 , which shows a data flow diagram of the forward and backward information flow according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

[0070] Figure 6 In the example, the information displayed on the CID display screen / CDD display screen can be seamlessly transmitted to the rear seat display screen (for example, the movie displayed on the CID display screen / CDD display screen can be shared with the rear seat display screen). In addition, if there are children sitting in the back seat, the front CID display screen / CDD display screen can also display a small display window for the content displayed on the RSD display screen to ensure that the children receive appropriate programs. In another example, if a child sitting in the back seat needs to watch a certain movie, the child can transmit a viewing request to the CID display screen / CDD display screen through the rear seat display screen so that the adult passenger sitting in the front seat can confirm it on the CID display screen / CDD display screen.

[0071] According to one embodiment of the present invention, one or more predefined information flow rules may include a cross-platform information flow rule for a cross-platform information flow mode, which specifies the situations in which information can flow between a smart device connected to the vehicle-mounted system in the vehicle and each display screen / display area in the vehicle. For example, the cross-platform information flow rule may specify: when a smart device is connected to the vehicle-mounted system, the state of the smart device is detected and corresponding visual effects or information are displayed on one or more of the PHUD display area, CID, CDD or RSD according to the detected state; when a smart device is connected to the vehicle-mounted system, information related to the application or corresponding visual effects are displayed on one or more of the PHUD display area, CID, CDD or RSD based on the application used by the smart device.

[0072] For example, refer to Figure 7 , which shows a data flow diagram of cross-platform information flow according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

[0073] exist Figure 7-1 In the present invention, if a user places a smart device (e.g., a mobile phone) on the center console to charge it (e.g., wireless charging, wired charging, etc.), some micro visual effects may be displayed on the CID display screen (e.g., a charging logo is displayed on the display screen, a flashing background or a background of a different color is displayed on the display screen, etc.) to let the user unconsciously know that his mobile phone is connected to the vehicle system.

[0074] exist Figure 7-2 In the example, if a mobile phone plays some rock music in the car and the vehicle is currently in a parked state (for example, waiting for a red light), the in-vehicle system can display a corresponding atmosphere on one or more display screens (for example, a CID display screen) based on the detected music rhythm and the driver's state in the car, such as one or more display screens can display matching ambient light rendering, matching screen background color, etc.

[0075] Those skilled in the art can fully understand that the above predetermined information flow rules are all illustrative, and different information flow rules can be predefined according to actual applications or requirements.

[0076] Figure 8 A flow chart of a method 800 for information flow within a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0077] At 805, a control input for information flow between one or more vehicle-mounted display screens or display areas in a vehicle or information flow between a smart device connected to the vehicle-mounted system and the one or more vehicle-mounted display screens or display areas is received. The one or more vehicle-mounted display screens or display areas include one or more of the following: a HUD display area, a PHUD display area, a CID display screen, a CDD display screen, or an RSD display screen.

[0078] According to one embodiment of the present invention, step 805 may further include receiving a control input for enabling or disabling one or more information flow modes. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the one or more information flow modes define the manner in which information flows between the one or more vehicle-mounted display screens or display areas or the manner in which information flows between a smart device connected to the vehicle-mounted system and the one or more vehicle-mounted display screens or display areas. Specifically, the one or more information flow modes may include one or more of the following: a top-down information flow mode, a bottom-up information flow mode, a horizontal information flow mode, and a front-to-back information flow mode or a cross-platform information flow mode related to the information flow between the vehicle-mounted display screens / display areas.

[0079] According to one embodiment of the present invention, step 805 may further include receiving control input for one or more of the one or more in-vehicle display screens / display areas and / or smart devices connected to the in-vehicle system to join or exit information flow.

[0080] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that step 805 may also be omitted. For example, the user may use the default information flow settings of the vehicle-mounted system.

[0081] At 810, one of the multiple information flow modes is triggered based on one or more predefined information flow rules, wherein the one or more predefined information flow rules may include information flow rules for one or more of the above five information flow modes.

[0082] At 815, information is flowed from the current display screen / display area to one or more other display screens / display areas based on the triggered information flow mode. According to one embodiment of the present invention, if the horizontal information flow mode is triggered, step 815 may further include flowing the information between multiple sub-display areas in the PHUD display area.

[0083] Fig. 9A schematic diagram of a vehicle 900 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The vehicle 900 may include one or more devices 905 (e.g., vehicle-mounted cameras) for capturing user postures / gestures. The vehicle 900 may also include one or more voice pickup devices 910 to pick up, for example, sounds played by smart devices. The vehicle 900 may also include one or more display screens 915 (e.g., CID display screens, CDD display screens, and / or RSD display screens) and / or one or more display areas 920 (e.g., HUD display areas and / or PHUD display areas). Furthermore, the vehicle 900 may include the system 200 described above or an on-board system including the system 200 to realize the flow of information in the vehicle.

[0084] Fig.10 A block diagram of an exemplary computing device according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown, which is one example of a hardware device applicable to various aspects of the present invention.

[0085] refer to Fig.10 , a computing device 1000 will now be described, which is an example of a hardware device applicable to various aspects of the present invention. The computing device 1000 can be any machine that can be configured to perform processing and / or computing, and can be but is not limited to a workstation, a server, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant, a smart phone, a vehicle-mounted computer, or any combination thereof. The various methods / apparatus / server / client devices described above can be implemented in whole or in part by the computing device 1000 or a similar device or system.

[0086] The computing device 1000 may include components that may be connected or communicated via one or more interfaces and a bus 1002. For example, the computing device 1000 may include a bus 1002, one or more processors 1004, one or more input devices 1006, and one or more output devices 1008. The one or more processors 1004 may be any type of processor and may include, but are not limited to, one or more general-purpose processors and / or one or more special-purpose processors (e.g., a dedicated processing chip). The input device 1006 may be any type of device capable of inputting information to the computing device and may include, but are not limited to, a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen, a microphone, and / or a remote controller. The output device 1008 may be any type of device capable of presenting information and may include, but are not limited to, a display, a speaker, a video / audio output terminal, a vibrator, and / or a printer. The computing device 1000 may also include or be connected to a non-transient storage device 1010, which may be any storage device that is non-transient and capable of data storage, and may include, but is not limited to, a disk drive, an optical storage device, a solid-state memory, a floppy disk, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape or any other magnetic medium, an optical disk or any other optical medium, a ROM (read-only memory), a RAM (random access memory), a cache memory, and / or any memory chip or cassette, and / or any other medium from which a computer can read data, instructions, and / or code. The non-transient storage device 1010 may be detachable from the interface. The non-transient storage device 1010 may have data / instructions / code for implementing the above methods and steps. The computing device 1000 may also include a communication device 1012. The communication device 1012 can be any type of device or system that can communicate with internal devices and / or with a network and can include but is not limited to a modem, a network card, an infrared communication device, a wireless communication device and / or a chipset, such as a Bluetooth device, an IEEE 1302.11 device, a WiFi device, a WiMax device, a cellular communication device and / or the like.

[0087] When the computing device 1000 is used as an in-vehicle device, it may also be connected to external devices (e.g., a GPS receiver, sensors for sensing different environmental data (such as an accelerometer, a wheel speed sensor, a gyroscope, etc.)). In this way, the computing device 1000 may, for example, receive positioning data and sensor data indicating the vehicle's form condition. When the computing device 1000 is used as an in-vehicle device, it may also be connected to other devices (e.g., an engine system, a wiper, an anti-lock brake system, a vehicle climate setting system, etc.) for controlling the travel and operation of the vehicle (e.g., vehicle environmental function settings).

[0088] In addition, the non-transitory storage device 1010 may have map information and software components so that the processor 1004 can implement route guidance processing. In addition, the output device 1006 may include a display for displaying the generated emotional user interface. The output device 1006 may also include a speaker or headphone interface for audio guidance.

[0089] The bus 1002 may include, but is not limited to, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, an Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, a Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus. In particular, for in-vehicle devices, the bus 402 may also include a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus or other structures designed for automotive applications.

[0090] The computing device 1000 may also include a working memory 1014 , which may be any type of working memory capable of storing instructions and / or data that facilitate the operation of the processor 1004 and may include, but is not limited to, a random access memory and / or a read-only storage device.

[0091] Software components may be located in the working memory 1014, including but not limited to an operating system 1016, one or more application programs 1018, drivers and / or other data and codes. Instructions for implementing the above methods and steps may be included in the one or more application programs 1018, and the modules / units / components of the aforementioned various devices / servers / client devices may be implemented by the processor 1004 reading and executing the instructions of the one or more application programs 1018.

[0092] It should also be recognized that changes may be made according to specific needs. For example, custom hardware may also be used, and / or specific components may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or any combination thereof. In addition, connections to other computing devices, such as network input / output devices, etc. may be employed. For example, programming hardware (e.g., programmable logic circuits including field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and / or programmable logic arrays (PLAs)) with assembly language or hardware programming languages ​​(e.g., VERILOG, VHDL, C++) may be used to implement part or all of the disclosed methods and devices using logic and algorithms according to the present invention.

[0093] Although various aspects of the present invention have been described so far with reference to the accompanying drawings, the above-described methods, systems and devices are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these aspects, but is limited only by the appended claims and their equivalents. Various components may be omitted or replaced by equivalent components. In addition, the steps may be implemented in an order different from the order described in the present invention. In addition, various components may be combined in various ways. It is also important that, as technology develops, many of the components described may be replaced by equivalent components that appear later.

Claims

1. A method for information flow in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising one or more on-board display screens and / or one or more display areas, the method comprising: triggering one of the one or more information flow modes based on one or more predefined information flow rules, wherein the one or more information flow modes define a manner in which information flows between the one or more in-vehicle display screens and / or the one or more display areas or a manner in which information flows between a smart device connected to the in-vehicle system and the one or more in-vehicle display screens and / or the one or more display areas; as well as Information is flowed from a current display screen or display area to one or more other display screens or display areas based on a triggered information flow mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: Receive control input on the flow of information between the one or more in-vehicle display screens and / or the one or more display areas in the vehicle or the flow of information between a smart device connected to the in-vehicle system and the one or more in-vehicle display screens and / or the one or more display areas.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that Receiving the control input further comprises: A control input is received to enable or disable the one or more information flow modes.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that Receiving the control input further includes: receiving control input for the one or more in-vehicle display screens and / or one or more of the one or more display areas and / or the smart device connected to the in-vehicle system to join or exit the information flow.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The one or more information flow modes include one or more of the following: a top-down information flow mode, a bottom-up information flow mode, a horizontal information flow mode, and a front-to-back information flow mode or a cross-platform information flow mode related to the information flow between the one or more vehicle-mounted display screens and / or the one or more display areas.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The one or more vehicle-mounted display screens include one or more of a central information display screen CID, a co-pilot display screen CDD, and a rear seat display screen RSD, and the one or more display areas include one or more of a head-up display device HUD display area and a panoramic head-up display device PHUD display area.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that In the top-down information flow mode, information flows downward from the PHUD display area to the central information display screen CID and / or the co-pilot display screen CDD; In the bottom-up information flow mode, information flows upward from the central information display screen CID and / or the co-pilot display screen CDD to the PHUD display area; In the horizontal information flow mode, information flows between a plurality of sub-display areas in the PHUD display area, or information flows between the central information display screen CID and the co-pilot display screen CDD; In the front-to-rear information flow mode, information flows between one or more of the HUD display area, the PHUD display area, the central information display screen CID and / or the co-pilot display screen CDD and the rear seat display screen RSD; In the cross-platform information flow mode, information flows between the smart device connected to the in-vehicle system and the one or more in-vehicle display screens and / or the one or more display areas.

8. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The one or more predefined information flow rules include information flow rules for one or more of the one or more information flow patterns.

9. A system for information flow in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising one or more on-board display screens and / or one or more display areas, the system comprising: An information flow control module, wherein the information flow control module is configured to control information flow between the one or more in-vehicle display screens and / or the one or more display areas in the vehicle or information flow between a smart device connected to an in-vehicle system and the one or more in-vehicle display screens and / or the one or more display areas; as well as An information flow triggering module, wherein the information flow triggering module is configured to trigger one of one or more information flow modes based on one or more predefined information flow rules, wherein the one or more information flow modes define how information flows between the one or more in-vehicle display screens or the one or more display areas or how information flows between a smart device connected to the in-vehicle system and the one or more in-vehicle display screens or the one or more display areas.

10. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that The one or more vehicle-mounted display screens include one or more of a central information display screen CID, a co-pilot display screen CDD, and a rear seat display screen RSD, and the one or more display areas include one or more of a head-up display device HUD display area and a panoramic head-up display device PHUD display area.

11. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that The one or more information flow modes include one or more of the following: a top-down information flow mode, a bottom-up information flow mode, a horizontal information flow mode, and a front-to-back information flow mode or a cross-platform information flow mode related to the information flow between the one or more vehicle-mounted display screens and / or the one or more display areas.

12. The system according to claim 11, characterized in that In the top-down information flow mode, information flows downward from the PHUD display area to the central information display screen CID and / or the co-pilot display screen CDD; In the bottom-up information flow mode, information flows upward from the central information display screen CID and / or the co-pilot display screen CDD to the PHUD display area; In the horizontal information flow mode, information flows between a plurality of sub-display areas in the PHUD display area, or information flows between the central information display screen CID and the co-pilot display screen CDD; In the front-to-rear information flow mode, information flows between one or more of the HUD display area, the PHUD display area, the central information display screen CID and / or the co-pilot display screen CDD and the rear seat display screen RSD; In the cross-platform information flow mode, information flows between the smart device connected to the in-vehicle system and the one or more in-vehicle display screens and / or the one or more display areas.

13. The system according to claim 11, characterized in that The one or more predefined information flow rules include information flow rules for one or more of the one or more information flow patterns.

14. A vehicle comprising: One or more vehicle display screens and / or one or more display areas; as well as A system as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14, characterized in that The one or more vehicle-mounted display screens include one or more of a central information display screen CID, a co-pilot display screen CDD, and a rear seat display screen RSD, and the one or more display areas include one or more of a head-up display device HUD display area and a panoramic head-up display device PHUD display area.

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