Cabin audio control system and vehicle comprising same

Abstract

The invention relates to a cabin audio control system and a vehicle comprising the same. The cabin audio control system comprises a first audio output device; a second audio output device; the plurality of vehicle-mounted playing sources are configured to provide audio contents to the first audio output device and the second audio output device respectively; the first controller is respectively coupled with the first audio output device, the second audio output device and the plurality of vehicle-mounted playing sources in communication, and the first controller is configured to determine corresponding use states of the first audio output device, the second audio output device and the plurality of vehicle-mounted playing sources; and determining a playback strategy for playback of the audio content on the first audio output device or the second audio output device based on the respective usage state and based on the playback priority among the plurality of in-vehicle playback sources. By means of the system, the playing priority of the audio content on the vehicle-mounted playing source with the high playing priority can be ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of data transmission, and in particular to a cockpit audio control system and a vehicle comprising the same. Background Art

[0002] The evolving multi-screen interaction and audio-visual technologies in the cockpit not only provide passengers with a richer experience, but also create new challenges in coordinating the control of the facilities in the cockpit by each passenger. For example, passengers may want to use the speakers in the cockpit to play their own audio content at the same time. The sudden switching of the currently played audio may cause the driver to pay unnecessary attention to it, thus affecting the driving safety of the vehicle.

[0003] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the above background technology section is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of the present application, and therefore may include information that does not constitute the prior art known to ordinary technicians in the field. Summary of the invention

[0004] According to one aspect of the present application, a cockpit audio control system is provided, comprising: a first audio output device; a second audio output device; a plurality of vehicle-mounted playback sources, which are configured to provide audio content to the first audio output device and the second audio output device, respectively; and a first controller, which is communicatively coupled with the first audio output device, the second audio output device, and the plurality of vehicle-mounted playback sources, respectively, wherein the first controller is configured to: determine corresponding usage states of the first audio output device, the second audio output device, and the plurality of vehicle-mounted playback sources; and determine a playback strategy for playback of the audio content on the first audio output device or the second audio output device based on the corresponding usage states and based on playback priorities among the plurality of vehicle-mounted playback sources.

[0005] In one or more embodiments of the present application, optionally, the cabin audio control system also includes a second controller, which is configured to: transmit the audio content from the audio input device to one of the multiple in-vehicle playback sources, or transmit the audio content from the one of the multiple in-vehicle playback sources to the first audio output device or the second audio output device according to an instruction associated with the playback strategy from the first controller.

[0006] In one or more embodiments of the present application, optionally, the playback priority is determined based at least on the relative positions of the multiple in-vehicle playback sources in the cabin, and the relative positions include: the main driver's side, the co-driver's side, and the rear seat side.

[0007] In one or more embodiments of the present application, optionally, the multiple in-vehicle playback sources include a user interaction device arranged in the cockpit and communicating with the first controller, and the user interaction device includes an instrument cluster and an in-vehicle infotainment system located on the main driver's side, a human-computer interaction system located on the co-driver's side, and a rear seat entertainment system located on the rear seat side.

[0008] In one or more embodiments of the present application, optionally, the first controller is also configured to: detect a user input signal from the user interaction device; and instruct the user interaction device to execute the playback strategy based on the user indication information carried by the user input signal and the playback priority between the multiple vehicle-mounted playback sources.

[0009] In one or more embodiments of the present application, optionally, the playback strategy includes: when the playback priorities among the multiple in-vehicle playback sources are the same, when an in-vehicle playback source among the multiple in-vehicle playback sources receives user input related to playing the desired audio content on the first audio output device being used by another in-vehicle playback source among the multiple in-vehicle playback sources, the in-vehicle playback source replaces the other in-vehicle playback source to play on the first audio output device; and when the playback priorities among the multiple in-vehicle playback sources are different, when the in-vehicle playback source with a relatively lower playback priority receives the user input related to playing the desired audio content on the first audio output device being used by the other in-vehicle playback source with a relatively higher playback priority, the user input is ignored.

[0010] In one or more embodiments of the present application, optionally, the first audio output device includes a vehicle audio system, and the second audio output device includes wired and wireless headphones.

[0011] In one or more embodiments of the present application, optionally, the first controller includes a vehicle controller and a domain control unit, and the second controller includes a Bluetooth transceiver.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present application, a method for controlling audio content playback is provided, the method comprising: determining corresponding usage states of a first audio output device, a second audio output device, and a plurality of in-vehicle playback sources; and determining a playback strategy for playing audio content on the first audio output device or the second audio output device based on the corresponding usage states and based on the playback priorities among the plurality of in-vehicle playback sources.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present application, a vehicle is provided, comprising any one of the cabin audio control systems described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The above and other features, aspects and advantages of the present application will become better understood when reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar elements are represented by the same reference numerals. It should be noted that the drawings in the present application are only schematic and may not be drawn to scale or specific numbers. In the drawings:

[0015] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a cockpit audio control system according to one or more embodiments of the present application;

[0016] Figure 2 A method for controlling audio content playback according to one or more embodiments of the present application is shown; and

[0017] Figure 3 A schematic block diagram of a computer system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The present application is described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which illustrative embodiments of the present application are illustrated. In the following detailed description of the embodiments, many specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present application's disclosure. However, in one or more embodiments and / or the accompanying drawings, well-known features are not described in detail to avoid making the description unnecessarily complicated. Where applicable, the embodiments of the present application and the features in the embodiments may also be combined with each other.

[0019] In the present application, terms such as "comprises", "includes", "has", etc. indicate that in addition to the units and steps directly and explicitly stated in the specification and claims, the technical solution recorded in the present application does not exclude the existence of other units and steps that are not directly or explicitly stated.

[0020] Unless otherwise specified, terms such as “first” and “second” do not indicate the order of elements in terms of time, space, size, etc., nor are they intended to limit any element to only a single element, but are merely used to distinguish between elements.

[0021] In the present application, the "controller" may include a communication component (such as a Bluetooth transceiver) with wired or wireless communication capabilities (for example, it can communicate with other components through a wired method based on protocols such as the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus, vehicle Ethernet, etc., and a wireless method based on protocols such as Bluetooth, wireless LAN, ZigBee, etc.), and may also include a main control unit of the cockpit audio control system proposed in the present application with the above-mentioned wired or wireless communication capabilities, which may be, for example, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, a vehicle control unit (VCU), an electronic control unit (ECU), a domain control unit (DCU) or any other suitable computing device or one or more combinations thereof. The term "coupling" used in the present application means directly connecting to one or more components or circuits in a wired or wireless manner or connecting in a wired or wireless manner through one or more intermediate components or circuits.

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a cockpit audio control system 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present application is shown. The cockpit audio control system 100 may include a first controller 110 (e.g., a VCU and a DCU), a first audio output device 120, a second audio output device 130, an in-vehicle playback source 140, a second controller 150 (e.g., one or more Bluetooth transceivers with Source and / or Sink modes), and an audio input device 160. Figure 1 Only one of each component is shown in the figure, but this is only for illustration. For each of the above components, the cabin audio control system 100 may include multiple such components (e.g., multiple in-vehicle playback sources 140). The in-vehicle playback source 140 may refer to a pre-installed and / or post-installed device with audio and / or video playback capabilities installed inside the cabin. In addition, Figure 1 The arrows of the connecting lines indicate the transmission direction of the audio data in the cockpit audio control system 100 .

[0023] exist Figure 1In the cockpit audio control system 100 shown, the first controller 110 can communicate with the second controller 150 and the in-vehicle playback source 140, and the second controller 150 can communicate with the first audio output device 120 and the second audio output device 130 (for example, to transmit data), so that the first controller 110 can be communicatively coupled with the first audio output device 120 and the second audio output device 130. The second controller 150 can also communicate with the audio input device 160 (for example, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a game console, a music storage device, a wearable electronic device, etc.) and the in-vehicle playback source 140 and can send and receive audio data. For example, the second controller 150 can transmit audio data from the audio input device 160 to the in-vehicle playback source 140, and transmit audio content from the in-vehicle playback source 140 to the first audio output device 120 or the second audio output device 130.

[0024] In one or more embodiments, a plurality of in-vehicle playback sources 140 may be arranged in the cabin audio control system 100, wherein each of the in-vehicle playback sources 140 may include a user interaction device, such as a combination instrument on the main driving side (e.g., facing the main driving seat and including the center console) (e.g., an instrument display device facing the main driving seat) and an in-vehicle infotainment system (e.g., a vehicle computer system located on the center console), a human-computer interaction system on the co-pilot side (e.g., facing the co-pilot seat) (e.g., a display device facing the co-pilot seat), and a rear seat entertainment system located on the rear seat side (e.g., one or more rear seats) (e.g., a display device deployed above the rear seats and a display device located on the backrest of the main driving seat and / or the co-pilot seat).

[0025] In one or more embodiments, the first audio output device 120 may include a vehicle audio system, such as a plurality of vehicle speakers and / or corresponding audio amplifiers arranged in various locations in the cabin for collaboratively playing audio content. The second audio output device 130 may include a wired and / or wireless headset that can communicate with the second controller 150, such as a Bluetooth wireless headset, a headset, an in-ear headset, an earbud headset, etc.

[0026] In one or more embodiments, the audio content output by the first audio output device 120 and / or the second audio output device 130 may correspond to different in-vehicle playback sources 140. Specifically, the audio content played by the first audio output device 120 and / or the second audio output device 130 may be provided by any in-vehicle playback source 140, and the audio content provided by different in-vehicle playback sources 140 may be different from each other. For example, the in-vehicle infotainment system may provide the first audio content (e.g., symphony) for the in-vehicle audio system, the display device facing the co-pilot seat may provide the second audio content (e.g., rock music) for the in-vehicle audio system and / or the first earphone, and the rear seat entertainment system may provide the third audio content (e.g., country music) for the second earphone and / or the third earphone. In addition, the playback and pause of the above audio content on the corresponding in-vehicle playback source 140 may be controlled independently of each other. For example, when the third audio content is paused on the third earphone, the playback of other audio content on the corresponding in-vehicle playback source 140 may be maintained, so that the passengers may listen to the desired audio content independently of each other.

[0027] In one or more embodiments, the above correspondence between the audio output by the first audio output device 120 and / or the second audio output device 130 and the in-vehicle playback source 140 can be obtained by the first controller 110, for example, through communication with the second controller 150 and / or the in-vehicle playback source 140. In this communication, the first controller 110 can also obtain the use status of the in-vehicle playback source 140, the first audio output device 120 and / or the second audio output device 130 (including in use (unavailable), unused (available)), and obtain the corresponding user of these audio output devices (one of the in-vehicle playback sources 140). For example, the first controller 110 can receive feedback data from the rear seat entertainment system including information that the third earphone is being used by the rear seat entertainment system (for example, playing music), and can receive feedback data from the in-vehicle infotainment system that it is not performing any video and / or audio playback.

[0028] In one or more embodiments, different in-vehicle playback sources 140 may have priorities (hereinafter referred to as “playback priorities”) in the playback of audio content, so that the in-vehicle playback source 140 with a relatively high playback priority can be preferentially ensured to play the audio content on the in-vehicle playback source 140 with a relatively high playback priority compared to the in-vehicle playback source 140 with a relatively low playback priority. Specifically, when the in-vehicle playback source 140 with a relatively high playback priority plays its audio content on, for example, the first audio output device 120 and when the in-vehicle playback source 140 with a relatively low playback priority receives a user input about playing the desired audio content on the first audio output device 120, the first controller 110 instructs the in-vehicle playback source 140 with a relatively low playback priority to ignore the user input, so that the in-vehicle playback source 140 with a relatively high playback priority keeps playing its audio content.

[0029] In one or more embodiments, the above-mentioned playback priority can be determined according to the relative position of the vehicle-mounted playback source 140 in the cabin. For example, the vehicle-mounted playback source 140 that is relatively closer to the main driving side has a higher playback priority than other vehicle-mounted playback sources 140, and the vehicle-mounted playback source 140 that is relatively closer to the back seat has a lower playback priority than other vehicle-mounted playback sources 140. In this case, when other passengers (such as rear seat passengers) expect to switch the vehicle-mounted audio system to play their desired audio content, the vehicle-mounted playback source 140 that is closer to the main driving side (such as the vehicle-mounted infotainment system) can continue to play the audio content, thereby not causing the driver to pay attention to the switching of the audio content.

[0030] In one or more embodiments, different in-vehicle playback sources 140 may also have the same playback priority. Specifically, when a certain in-vehicle playback source 140 plays its audio content on, for example, the first audio output device 120 and when another in-vehicle playback source 140 receives a user input regarding playing the desired audio content on the first audio output device 120, the first controller 110 may instruct the in-vehicle playback source 140 to pause the playback and instruct the other in-vehicle playback source 140 to initiate playback of the corresponding audio content on the first audio output device 120.

[0031] In one or more embodiments, the first controller 110 may determine (e.g., formulate) a corresponding playback strategy for the playback of audio content on the first audio output device 120 and / or the second audio output device 130 according to the usage status of the vehicle playback source 140 and each audio output device and according to the playback priority between the vehicle playback sources 140. As described above, the playback strategy may refer to: when the playback priorities between the multiple vehicle playback sources 140 are different, when the vehicle playback source 140 with a relatively low playback priority receives a user input related to playing the desired audio content on the first audio output device 120 being used by another vehicle playback source 140 with a relatively high playback priority, the user input is ignored; when the playback priorities between the multiple vehicle playback sources 140 are the same, when the vehicle playback source 140 receives a user input related to playing the desired audio content on the first audio output device 120 being used by another vehicle playback source 140, the vehicle playback source 140 replaces the other vehicle playback source 140 to play on the first audio output device 120.

[0032] For example, when a certain in-vehicle playback source 140 plays its audio content on, for example, the second audio output device 130 and no other in-vehicle playback source 140 plays using the first audio output device 120 and when another in-vehicle playback source 140 receives user input regarding playing desired audio content on the first audio output device 120, the first controller 110 may detect a user input signal from the other in-vehicle playback source 140 (e.g., a user interaction device) and, based on user indication information represented by the user input signal, instruct the other in-vehicle playback source 140 to initiate playback of the corresponding audio content on the first audio output device 120. However, when the in-vehicle playback source 140 with a relatively high playback priority plays its audio content on, for example, the first audio output device 120 and when the in-vehicle playback source 140 with a relatively low playback priority receives a user input regarding the desired audio content to be played on the first audio output device 120, the first controller 110 may detect a user input signal from the in-vehicle playback source 140 with a relatively low playback priority (e.g., a user interaction device), and instruct the in-vehicle playback source 140 with a relatively low playback priority to ignore the user input based on the user instruction information indicated by the user input signal, so that the in-vehicle playback source 140 with a relatively high playback priority continues to play its audio content. Thus, in the case of selectively utilizing these audio output devices, the playback of the audio content on the in-vehicle playback source 140 with a relatively high playback priority may be preferentially ensured.

[0033] In one or more embodiments, the second controller 150 may transmit the audio content from the audio input device 160 to one of the multiple in-vehicle playback sources 140, or transmit the audio content from one of the multiple in-vehicle playback sources 140 to the first audio output device 120 or the second audio output device 130 according to the instruction associated with the playback strategy from the first controller 110. For example, the first controller 110 may instruct the second controller 150 to receive the stored audio data from, for example, the occupant's smart phone and transmit it to, for example, the in-vehicle infotainment system for storage, and may also instruct the second controller 150 to receive the stored audio data from, for example, the rear seat entertainment system and transmit it to, for example, the third headset for playback.

[0034] Figure 2 A method 200 for controlling the playback of audio content according to one or more embodiments of the present application is shown. The method 200 includes steps 210 and 220 and can be performed by an audio control system (e.g. Figure 1 The cockpit audio control system 100 is implemented as described above, wherein the audio control system may include a first audio output device, a second audio output device, a plurality of vehicle-mounted playback sources that provide audio content to the first audio output device and the second audio output device, respectively, and a first controller that is communicatively coupled to the first audio output device, the second audio output device, and the plurality of vehicle-mounted playback sources, respectively. In step 210, the first controller determines the corresponding usage status of the first audio output device, the second audio output device, and the plurality of vehicle-mounted playback sources. In step 220, based on the corresponding usage status and based on the playback priority between the plurality of vehicle-mounted playback sources, the first controller determines a playback strategy for the playback of the audio content on the first audio output device or the second audio output device.

[0035] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that some or all of the steps may be combined or omitted, and some or all of the steps may be performed in parallel, and additional steps may be further performed. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure should not be considered limited to Figure 2 A specific arrangement of the steps shown in .

[0036] Figure 3 3 is a schematic block diagram of a computer system 300. Figure 3As shown, the computer system 300 includes at least one memory 310 (e.g., a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, a ROM, a hard disk drive, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, etc.), at least one processor 320, and a computer program 330. The memory 310 stores the computer program 330 executable by the processor 320. The processor 330 is configured to run the computer program 330 stored on the memory 310. By running the computer program stored on one or more memories on one or more processors (e.g., a method in which multiple processors cooperate to run the computer program or a method in which a single processor runs the computer program alone), the above-mentioned method can be realized by using Figure 2 One or more steps or operations included in the method.

[0037] According to another aspect of the present application, a computer-readable storage medium is provided on which instructions are stored. When the instructions are executed by a processor, the above-mentioned Figure 2 One or more steps or operations included in the method.

[0038] According to another aspect of the present application, a computer program product is also provided, the computer program product comprising computer instructions, the computer instructions can be executed by a processor to achieve the above Figure 2 One or more steps or operations included in the method.

[0039] The processor referred to in this application may be an integrated circuit chip having the ability to process signals. Figure 2 One or more steps or operations included in the method may be performed by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in a processor or by instructions in the form of software. The processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor, etc.

[0040] The computer-readable storage medium referred to in the present application includes various types of computer storage media, which can be any available medium that a general or special-purpose computer can access. For example, a computer-readable storage medium can include RAM, ROM, EPROM, E2PROM, register, hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, disk storage or other magnetic storage device, or can be used to carry or store a desired program code unit with an instruction or data structure form and can be accessed by a general or special-purpose computer, or a general or special-purpose processor. Any other temporary or non-temporary medium. The above combination should also be included in the protection scope of the computer-readable storage medium. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to a processor so that the processor can read and write information from / to the storage medium. In an alternative, a storage medium can be integrated into a processor.

[0041] It should be noted that the embodiments described in this application are intended to make the disclosure herein comprehensive and complete, and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Those skilled in the art may think of other feasible changes or replacements based on the technical scope disclosed in this application, and such changes or replacements are all included in the protection scope of this application. Those skilled in the art will know that the above description and examples are provided only for the convenience of explanation and example, and the proposed description and examples are not intended to cover all aspects of the application or limit the application to the disclosed precise form. The technical solutions recorded in this application can be implemented in different forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the application.

Claims

1. A cockpit audio control system, the cockpit audio control system comprising: a first audio output device; a second audio output device; a plurality of in-vehicle playback sources, which are configured to provide audio content to the first audio output device and the second audio output device respectively; as well as A first controller is communicatively coupled with the first audio output device, the second audio output device, and the plurality of vehicle-mounted playback sources, wherein the first controller is configured to: Determining respective usage states of the first audio output device, the second audio output device, and the plurality of in-vehicle playback sources; and Based on the corresponding usage status and based on the playback priorities among the multiple in-vehicle playback sources, a playback strategy for playing the audio content on the first audio output device or the second audio output device is determined.

2. The cockpit audio control system according to claim 1, wherein: The cockpit audio control system also includes a second controller, which is configured to: according to an instruction associated with the playback strategy from the first controller, transmit the audio content from the audio input device to one of the multiple in-vehicle playback sources, or transmit the audio content from the one of the multiple in-vehicle playback sources to the first audio output device or the second audio output device.

3. The cockpit audio control system according to claim 1, wherein: The playback priority is determined based at least on the relative positions of the multiple in-vehicle playback sources in the cabin, and the relative positions include: a main driver's side, a co-driver's side, and a rear seat side.

4. The cockpit audio control system according to claim 3, wherein: The multiple in-vehicle playback sources include a user interaction device arranged in the cockpit and communicating with the first controller, and the user interaction device includes a combination instrument and an in-vehicle infotainment system located on the main driving side, a human-computer interaction system located on the co-pilot side, and a rear seat entertainment system located on the rear seat side.

5. The cockpit audio control system according to claim 4, wherein: The first controller is further configured to: detect a user input signal from the user interaction device; and According to the user instruction information carried by the user input signal and the play priorities among the multiple vehicle-mounted play sources, the user interaction device is instructed to execute the play strategy.

6. The cockpit audio control system according to claim 1, wherein: The playback strategy includes: In the case where the playback priorities among the multiple in-vehicle playback sources are the same, when an in-vehicle playback source among the multiple in-vehicle playback sources receives a user input related to playing the desired audio content on the first audio output device being used by another in-vehicle playback source among the multiple in-vehicle playback sources, the in-vehicle playback source replaces the other in-vehicle playback source to play on the first audio output device; and In the case where the playback priorities are different between the multiple in-vehicle playback sources, when the in-vehicle playback source with a relatively lower playback priority receives the user input related to playing the desired audio content on the first audio output device being used by the other in-vehicle playback source with a relatively higher playback priority, the user input is ignored.

7. The cockpit audio control system according to claim 1, wherein: The first audio output device includes a vehicle audio system, and the second audio output device includes wired and wireless headphones.

8. The cockpit audio control system according to claim 2, wherein: The first controller includes a vehicle controller and a domain control unit, and the second controller includes a Bluetooth transceiver.

9. A method for controlling the playback of audio content, the method comprising: Determining respective usage states of a first audio output device, a second audio output device, and a plurality of vehicle-mounted playback sources; as well as Based on the corresponding usage status and based on the playback priorities among the multiple in-vehicle playback sources, a playback strategy for playing audio content on the first audio output device or the second audio output device is determined.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that: The vehicle comprises a cabin audio control system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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