System and method for operating system

Abstract

The invention relates to a system comprising a motor vehicle and a communication device, the communication device comprising a body, a head mounted on the body, the head comprising a screen device for outputting optical display content, the communication device further comprising a movement device, the movement device being configured to move the head relative to the body, the communication device further comprises a control device for controlling the movement device and / or the screen device, an interface device, by means of which a connection can be reversibly established between the communication device and the motor vehicle, and a storage device, by means of which the connection can be reversibly established between the communication device and the motor vehicle. The storage device stores a plurality of different display contents and / or movement flows of the head relative to the main body, and the control device is used for receiving control signals from the motor vehicle, triggering output of the display contents according to the received control signals and / or triggering execution of the movement flows.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a system comprising a motor vehicle and a communication device, and to a method for operating the system. BACKGROUND

[0002] From US 2011 / 0144856 A1 a three-dimensional figure for communicating with an occupant in a motor vehicle is known, wherein the three-dimensional figure is fixed in a position in the motor vehicle. The three-dimensional figure is provided for optically and / or acoustically communicating with a driver or an occupant of the motor vehicle.

[0003] Furthermore, from DE 10 2007 037 073 A1 a device for communicating information to a driver of a motor vehicle is known. The device comprises a control device and an indication device which is controlled by the control device. The indication device has at least one directional indication element which is three-dimensionally embodied and which can be moved in at least one degree of freedom. Furthermore, the indication device has a drive element for moving the directional indication element. A spatial direction to be displayed to the driver can be determined by the control device. The drive element of the indication device can be controlled by the control device in order to orient the directional indication element along the spatial direction to be displayed.

[0004] Furthermore, from WO 2016 / 202450 A1 a method for controlling an interface device of a motor vehicle is known. In the context of the method, at least one physiological parameter of a vehicle occupant, in particular a driver of the motor vehicle, is detected by means of a sensor device. Furthermore, the method comprises determining a psychological state of the vehicle occupant by analyzing the detected physiological parameter. Furthermore, the method comprises controlling an output production of the interface device in order to influence at least one output in dependence on the result of the analysis of the psychological state of the vehicle occupant and the psychological state thereof. SUMMARY

[0005] The invention solves the technical problem of providing a solution which enables a motor vehicle occupant to communicate with a communication device in a particularly simple and comprehensive manner.

[0006] According to the invention, the technical problem is solved by a system and a method for operating the system. Further possible design options of the invention are disclosed in the description and the drawings. The features, advantages and possible design options described for one of the technical solutions of the independent claims are to be considered at least analogously as features, advantages and possible design options of the respective technical solution of the other independent claims and of any possible combination of the respective technical solutions of the independent claims, if necessary in combination with one or more dependent claims.

[0007] The invention relates to a system comprising a motor vehicle, in particular a car, in particular a passenger car, and a communication device. The communication device is an embodied avatar. The communication device comprises a body, a head mounted on the body, which comprises screen means for outputting an optical display for the purpose of communication with an occupant in the motor vehicle, and movement means for moving the head relative to the body. The movement means are designed in particular for moving the head relative to the body in six degrees of freedom, for movement along three spatial directions and for rotation relative to the body about the respective spatial directions. Furthermore, the communication device comprises control means for controlling the movement means and / or the screen means. Furthermore, the communication device comprises interface means, by means of which a mechanical and electrical connection can be established reversibly between the communication device and the motor vehicle for the purpose of power supply and / or data transmission. It is provided in particular that the motor vehicle comprises at least one mating interface means with which the interface means of the communication device can interfere or act. By means of this action between the interface means of the communication device and the mating interface means of the motor vehicle, an electrically conductive connection and a mechanical connection can be established between the communication device and the motor vehicle. By means of the electrically conductive connection, the communication device can be supplied with electrical energy by the motor vehicle. By means of the mechanical connection, the communication device can be fixed in its position relative to the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the communication device comprises storage means in which a plurality of different display contents and / or movement sequences for the movement of the head relative to the body are stored. The respective display content can be, for example, an image, a film or an animation which is to be output by means of the screen means of the head. The respective movement sequence can characterize one or more movements of the head relative to the body which are to be executed one after the other. The control means are designed to receive a control signal from the motor vehicle, to select one of the display contents stored in the control means in accordance with the received control signal and to trigger the output of the display content, and / or to select one of the movement sequences stored in the storage means and to trigger the execution of the movement sequence. In other words, the respective movement sequence or the respective optical display content is stored in the communication device, wherein the output of the stored optical display content or the execution of the stored movement sequence is triggered by means of a control signal which is transmitted from the motor vehicle to the communication device. Since the respective optical display content and the movement sequence are already stored in the communication device, only a particularly small amount of data has to be transmitted from the motor vehicle to the communication device in order to trigger the output of at least one optical display content or the execution of at least one movement sequence. It is thus possible to dispense with the transmission of a control signal from the motor vehicle to the communication device which contains a large amount of data characterizing the display content to be output by means of the screen means and / or the movement sequence to be triggered. Since only a particularly small amount of data has to be transmitted from the motor vehicle to the communication device, the output of the optical display content or the start of the movement sequence can be triggered particularly quickly and easily.

[0008] In a possible further development of the application, it is provided that the interface device is designed to establish a mechanical connection and a wireless connection between the communication device and the motor vehicle. By means of the interface device, a particularly comprehensive connection of the communication device to the motor vehicle can thus be achieved. The interface device can for example comprise a so-called multiport plug-in, which is designed to be inserted into a mating interface device of the motor vehicle, which is for example designed as a multiport. The motor vehicle can comprise a so-called introduction device interface, which is designed to establish a wireless connection, in the form of a radio connection, with the communication device. It is possible for the communication device to be fixed to the motor vehicle by means of the mechanical connection and for electrical energy to be additionally transmitted from the motor vehicle to the communication device. The data transmission can take place by means of the wireless connection. The data transmission can for example be achieved by means of a Bluetooth low energy technology by means of the wireless connection.

[0009] In a further possible embodiment of the application, it is provided that the motor vehicle comprises a computing device, which is designed to select an action for the communication device in response to a detected input of a vehicle occupant or in response to a detected behavior of a vehicle occupant and to provide a control signal for the control device of the communication device, which control signal characterizes the action. It is thus possible for the electronic computing device of the motor vehicle to determine how the communication device should react to a detected input or to a detected behavior of a vehicle occupant, in particular in order to communicate with a vehicle occupant. The computing power for determining an action which is adapted to a detected behavior or to a detected input of a vehicle occupant is thus used in the motor vehicle. The control signal for the communication device is then provided in accordance with the action determined by the motor vehicle, as a result of which it is determined by the control device of the communication device which of the plurality of optical display contents or movement sequences stored in the storage device corresponds to the action characterized by the control signal. Subsequently, the control device of the communication device triggers the output of the optical display content corresponding to the action or the execution of the movement sequence corresponding to the action characterized by the control signal. The communication device, in particular the control device of the communication device, thus requires only particularly little computing power. The communication device can thus be designed particularly simply, since the majority of the computing work is carried out by the computing device of the vehicle.

[0010] In another possible design of the application it is provided that the system further comprises a superordinate server device, which is connected to the motor vehicle via a first data connection, wherein the motor vehicle is connected to the communication device via a second data connection. The second data connection between the motor vehicle and the communication device can be established in particular via a wireless connection. The motor vehicle is thus provided to communicate both with the superordinate server device and with the communication device via the respective data connection. The superordinate server device can be in particular a so-called cloud platform. The cloud platform can be provided to intelligently process complex requests of the electronic computing device of the vehicle, in particular of the motor vehicle, and to provide data to the motor vehicle, in particular to the electronic computing device of the motor vehicle. The communication device is thus connected to the superordinate server device via the motor vehicle. Since the motor vehicle is connected to the superordinate server device and thus has access to the resources of the superordinate server device, the motor vehicle can select, in response to a detected input of the occupant or in response to a detected behavior of the occupant, an action that is well adapted to the input or the determined behavior, which action is executed by means of the communication device by means of optical display content that corresponds to the action or by executing a motion sequence that is characteristic of the action.

[0011] In another possible design of the application it is provided that the motor vehicle has a plurality of mating interface devices at different locations within the vehicle interior of the motor vehicle, which mating interface devices can each interact with the interface device of the communication device. This means that the communication device can be positioned at different locations within the motor vehicle and can be electrically connected to the motor vehicle by engaging the interface device with the respective mating interface device. This makes it possible to use the communication device particularly simply and conveniently in different regions of the motor vehicle interior.

[0012] The application also relates to a method for operating a system, which has been described in connection with the system according to the application. In the method, a control signal is received from a motor vehicle by means of a control device of a communication device, and the display content stored in a storage device is selected in accordance with the received control signal, and the output of the display content by means of a screen device is triggered, and / or a movement sequence stored in the storage device is selected, and the execution of the movement sequence by means of a movement device is triggered. Thus, by providing a control signal, the selected optical display content is triggered by the motor vehicle to be output by means of the screen device, and / or the movement of the head relative to the body is triggered by means of the movement device. Since the respective display content or the respective movement sequence is stored in the storage device of the communication device, the control signal can contain only particularly little data, thereby enabling the control signal to be transmitted particularly quickly from the motor vehicle to the communication device. Thus, it is not necessary to transmit a large amount of data from the motor vehicle to the communication device in order to trigger the output of the optical display content or to trigger the movement of the head relative to the body. The output of the respective optical display content or the execution of the movement sequence can thus be triggered particularly quickly after a decision has been made as to which optical display content is to be displayed or which movement sequence is to be executed.

[0013] In a possible further development of the application, it is provided that a voice input of a vehicle occupant by means of the motor vehicle is analyzed, and the control signal is provided in accordance with the analysis. This makes it possible for the optical display content output by the communication device or the movement sequence executed by the communication device to be adapted particularly well to the voice input detected of the vehicle occupant by means of the motor vehicle. This makes it possible to realize a particularly natural manner of communication between the vehicle occupant and the communication device for the vehicle occupant. The vehicle occupant can thus have the impression that the communication device responds to the content of the voice input by outputting the optical display content or by executing the movement sequence.

[0014] In a possible further embodiment of the application, it is provided that the control signal is provided by means of the motor vehicle in accordance with information received by the motor vehicle from a superior server device. In other words, the motor vehicle receives information from the server device, so that it can utilize the information of the server device. The motor vehicle can thus generate the control signal in accordance with the current situation characterized by the information. This makes it possible to minimize the risk of a reaction of the communication device being perceived as outdated by the vehicle occupant.

[0015] In another possible design of the application it is provided that the extension information stored in the extension storage device of the extension component is read by means of the communication device and transmitted to the motor vehicle. The extension component can be a so-called physical add-on component, in particular. The extension component can have the shape of a helmet, for example, which can be fitted on the head of the communication device. The extension component comprises an extension storage device for storing the extension information. The extension information can characterize, for example, what type of extension component the extension component is. The extension storage device can be designed as a chip, in particular an RFID chip or an NFC chip, for example. The communication device can comprise a chip reading device, for example, by means of which the chip of the extension component can be read. The communication device transmits the detected extension information to the motor vehicle, by means of which the motor vehicle subsequently requests a data set from the server device in accordance with the received extension information. The motor vehicle forwards the data set received by the server device in response to the request to the communication device. The data set received by the server device characterizes at least one optical display content and / or at least one movement sequence. The optical display content characterized by the data set or the movement sequence characterized by the data set can be specific to the extension component. This means that the optical display content characterized by the data set or the movement sequence characterized by the data set can be different from all other optical display contents and movement sequences already stored in the communication device. It is thus possible to adapt the optical appearance of the communication device in accordance with the extension component by means of the optical display content characterized by the data set. Alternatively or additionally it is possible to adapt the features of the communication device characterized by the movement sequence to the extension component by means of the movement sequence characterized by the data set, for example in such a way that the features of the communication device characterized by the movement sequence are adapted by adapting the posture of the communication device.

[0016] By using a corresponding extension component it is possible to personalize the appearance of the communication device or at least its exhibited features particularly easily and diversely.

[0017] In connection therewith it is provided, in particular, that the optical display content characterized by the data set and / or the movement sequence characterized by the data set is stored in a storage device of the communication device. Thus, even if the extension component is removed from the communication device, the optical display content or the movement sequence can continue to be stored in the storage device of the communication device. Thereby it is possible to achieve a particularly easy, persistent or multiple use of the optical display content characterized by the data set and / or the movement sequence characterized by the data set. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] Further features of the application can be gathered from the following description of the drawings and by means of the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned in the above description and the features and combinations of features shown in the drawings alone or in combination are usable not only in the respectively indicated combinations, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the application.

[0019] In the drawings:

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic view of a cockpit of a motor vehicle is shown, in which a communication device is arranged;

[0021] Figure 2 A schematic view of a communication connection between a motor vehicle and a server device of a superior and a mobile electronic terminal device is shown;

[0022] Figure 3 A schematic view of a communication connection between a motor vehicle and a communication device is shown;

[0023] Figure 4 A schematic view of a communication path between a motor vehicle and a communication device is shown; and

[0024] Figure 5 A further schematic view of a communication path between a motor vehicle, a communication device and a server device of a superior is shown.

[0025] In the drawings, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Figure 1 A cockpit 10 of a motor vehicle 12 is shown in part, in which a communication device 14 is fixed on a dashboard 16 in the cockpit 10. The communication device 14 and the motor vehicle 12 are part of a common system. As Figure 1 is shown, the communication device 14 comprises a main body 18 and a head 20 arranged on the main body 18. The head 20 comprises a screen device 22 for communicating with an occupant of the motor vehicle 12. The screen device 22 is provided for outputting optical display content. As Figure 2 is shown, the optical display content is output in the form of an eye by means of the screen device 22. The communication device 14 further comprises a movement device 24, which is provided for moving the head 20 relative to the main body 18. The communication device 14 further comprises a control device and a storage device, which are arranged in the head 20 and / or the main body 18, and therefore are not explicitly shown in Figure 1 . Furthermore, the communication device 14 further comprises an interface device, which is inserted in a mating interface device in the dashboard 16 of the motor vehicle 12 in the schematic view shown in Figure 1 , and therefore is likewise not explicitly shown in Figure 1

[0027] ​The control device is provided for controlling the movement device 24 and / or the screen device 22. The interface device is provided for reversibly establishing a mechanical and electrical connection to the motor vehicle 12. The electrical connection can be used for powering the communication device 14 and / or for data transmission between the communication device 14 and the motor vehicle 12. The storage device stores different optical display contents which can be output by means of the screen device 22 and / or movement sequences for controlling the movement of the head 20 relative to the body 18 which can be executed by means of the movement device 24. The control device is further provided for receiving control signals from the motor vehicle 12, selecting one of the display contents stored in the storage device in accordance with the received control signals and triggering the output of the display contents by means of the screen device 22 and / or triggering one of the movement sequences stored in the storage device and triggering the execution of the movement sequence by means of the movement device 24.

[0028] The system can additionally comprise a superior server device 26, here a cloud platform. Via this superior server device 26, the motor vehicle 12 can be connected by means of a first data connection 28. The motor vehicle 12 is connected to the communication device 14 here by means of a second data connection 30.

[0029] It is provided here that the motor vehicle 12 comprises a plurality of mating interface devices at different positions within the vehicle interior of the motor vehicle 12, which can each interact with the interface device of the communication device 14.

[0030] The motor vehicle 12 can also be connected to at least one mobile electronic terminal device 34, for example an identification device 36 and / or a smartphone 38, by means of an introduction device interface 32. The motor vehicle 12 is connected to the respective mobile electronic terminal device 34 in particular by means of Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy technology.

[0031] Figure 3The connection of the motor vehicle 12, in particular of the electronic computing device 40, to the communication device 14 is shown schematically. The electronic computing device 40 of the motor vehicle 12 can be provided for controlling or executing an infotainment system of the motor vehicle 12 and / or for controlling or executing a digital assistant of the motor vehicle 12. The electronic computing device 40 enables a quick local processing of a voice input of a vehicle occupant and a transmission of data characterizing the voice input to the cloud. The second data connection 30 between the communication device 14 and the electronic computing device 40 can be implemented by means of the introduction device interface 32. By means of the electromechanical interface 42 consisting of the interface device and the mating interface device, a mechanical anchoring of the communication device 14 in the vehicle interior of the motor vehicle 12 and an energy transmission from the motor vehicle 12 to the communication device 14 can be implemented. The communication device 14 is a physical avatar, which has stored in its storage device an animation and / or a video sequence as a possible optical display content locally. The playback of the respective animation or video sequence by means of the screen device 22 is triggered by the electronic computing device 40 in such a way that the electronic computing device 40 provides or transmits a control signal for characterizing or triggering the playback to or for the communication device 14. The electronic computing device 40 is in particular provided for selecting an action of the communication device 14 and for providing a control signal characterizing the action to a control device of the communication device 14 in response to a detected input or behavior of a vehicle occupant.

[0032] The introduction device interface 32 is in particular provided for establishing a wireless connection between the motor vehicle 12, in particular the electronic computing device 40, and the communication device 14 or the respective mobile electronic terminal device 34. The interface device of the communication device 14 is provided for establishing the second data connection 30, in particular in the form of a wireless connection, with the introduction device interface 32 of the motor vehicle 12. The interface device is thus provided for establishing both a mechanical connection and a wireless connection between the communication device 14 and the motor vehicle 12.

[0033] It is provided in operation that the control signal is received by means of the control device of the communication device 14 from the motor vehicle 12 and that a display content stored in the storage device is selected in accordance with the received control signal and that an output of the display content is triggered and / or a movement sequence stored in the storage device is selected and execution of the movement sequence is triggered.

[0034] It is possible that a voice input of an in-vehicle passenger is analyzed by means of the motor vehicle 12, in particular by means of the electronic computing device 40, and a control signal is provided in accordance with the analysis, whereby the action of the communication device 14 triggered by the control signal is particularly well adapted to the voice input of the vehicle occupant. It can be provided in particular that the control signal is provided by means of the motor vehicle 12, in particular by means of the electronic computing device 40, in accordance with information received by the motor vehicle 12 or the electronic computing device 40, in particular from a superior server device 26, by means of the first data connection 28.

[0035] By means of the motor vehicle 12, in particular by means of the electronic computing device 40, it is possible to provide a control signal in accordance with information received by the motor vehicle 12 or the electronic computing device 40, in particular from a superior server device 26, by means of the first data connection 28. Figure 3It is further known that the communication device 14 can communicate with the extension component 46 by means of the near field communication device 44 or read information from the extension storage device of the extension component 46. The communication device 14 is able to transmit the read extension information to the electronic computing device 40, by means of which the electronic computing device requests a data set from the server device 26 in accordance with the extension information. The data set received by the server device 26 can be transmitted again by the electronic computing device 40 to the communication device 14, which data set characterizes at least one optical display content and / or at least one movement procedure. The optical display content characterized by the data set and / or the movement procedure characterized by the data set can then be stored in the storage device of the communication device.

[0036] Figure 4 A communication between the digital assistant 48 executed by means of the electronic computing device 40 and the communication device 14 representing the embodied avatar is shown. The digital assistant 48 can receive data from a plurality of data sources 50. The digital assistant 48 can perform speech recognition 52, interpret 54 the detected speech input and execute function-specific logic 56. Furthermore, the digital assistant 48 can also generate speech output 58, which can be provided to a loudspeaker device 60. The digital assistant 48 can also generate 62 an HMI display for the human-machine interface 64 of the motor vehicle 12. The human-machine interface 64, also referred to as human-machine interface (HMI), comprises at least one screen device by means of which the generated HMI display 62 can be output. The digital assistant 48 is also provided for generating an emotional state 66 for the embodied avatar and performing avatar control 68 by providing control signals. Thereby, the movement and gaze direction 70, the state visualization 72 and the function-specific animation 74 of the embodied avatar can be triggered or set.

[0037] The invention is based on the recognition that in a motor vehicle 12 the interaction with the digital assistant 48 takes place mainly by speech and thus purely verbally. The lack of non-verbal communication can lead to the user often feeling the interaction to be unnatural. An avatar can increase the degree of naturalness. A digital avatar can thereby give the assistant a face on the screen. However, for a real posture, a movable physical body is required. The embodied avatar provided by the communication device 14 has a distinctive, easily perceptible and easily understandable posture and is designed extremely simply, has accident safety and can be integrated into the interior of the motor vehicle 12 with less disturbance.

[0038] The communication device 14 is here a cylindrical structure, which can be integrated as a physical avatar into the dashboard of the motor vehicle 12. The physical avatar is here designed with a high flexibility for the presentation of digital content and a high degree of freedom for mechanical movement, and on the other hand with a minimalist design. The avatar consists of the main components head 20, body 18 and interface device. The interface device is designed as a proprietary plug, among other things. The structure allows the head 20 to move in six degrees of freedom relative to the body 18 and to display digital content on a curved screen device 22 that is part of the head 20 of the avatar.

[0039] The communication architecture of the system consists of three main components, which communicate with each other, namely the motor vehicle 12, the superior server device 26 and the communication device 14, and if necessary additional mobile electronic terminal equipment 34. The core element is the motor vehicle 12 with an electronic computing device 40 on which the functions of a digital assistant 48 can be run. The physical avatar is provided as an extended function of the digital assistant 48, which is the basic function. The integration of the physical avatar in the motor vehicle 12 is realized on the one hand electromechanically by means of a universal multi-port interface, i.e. by the action of the interface device with a corresponding interface device, and on the other hand by a universal infotainment data interface for various plug-in devices, which is referred to as plug-in device interface 32. The virtual character is equipped with a local storage device for storing video animations and movement sequences. The avatar is controlled by the electronic computing device 40 by means of the plug-in device interface 32. In the electronic computing device 40, all data and functions of the digital assistant 48 are processed. Therefore, speech input and speech output as well as function-specific events are processed by means of the electronic computing device 40. The electronic computing device 40 is connected to the server device 26. Thereby, determined requests, such as weather information, can be processed online. When interacting with the user, the animations and movement flows stored on the avatar are called up by the electronic computing device 14 with a clear ID, which is characterized, among other things, by a control signal.

[0040] Figure 4The communication between the digital assistant 48 and the entity avatar is shown. The digital assistant 48 has various data sources 50 and a central intelligence component. In the central intelligence component, a recognition of the speaker (52), a semantic interpretation of the voice input (54) and other function-specific logic (56) are carried out. With the aid of domain- and function-specific information, and relevant information about the sender or recipient of the communication message, for example the driver or the passenger, and the intended emotion expressed by the virtual character, the digital assistant 48 defines the action flow and the animation flow that should be triggered on the virtual character. On the basis of this, a voice output (58) for the HMI display content 62 of the display of the digital assistant 48 is generated, which is located outside the communication device 14, and a suitable emotional state 66, for example happy, serious, sad, etc., is generated. The digital assistant 48 comprises an avatar control component, which is able to determine the suitable motion flow, the state visualization and the function-specific animations of the avatar on the basis of this information and is able to trigger this by means of the introduction device interface 32.

[0041] The entity avatar can be extended by means of extension components 46. These extension components 46 can also be referred to as so-called add-on components. In these add-on components, an encoded NFC tag can be integrated as an extension storage device, which can be read by an NFC reading device integrated in the head portion of the avatar. With the aid of this read extension information, new digital elements can be loaded and played on the screen device 22 of the avatar. When the extension component 46 is used for the first time, the content is downloaded from the superior server device 26 and stored in the motor vehicle 12 by means of the storage device of the communication device 14, depending on the type of the received data set, in order to use the respective extension component 46 in the future.

[0042] With the aid of the introduction device interface 32, mobile electronic terminal devices 34, for example smartphones 38 and digital keys 36, can be connected. In this way, the user can be authenticated when using functions that relate to safety-critical functions, for example payment processes.

[0043] The introduction device interface 32 is an infotainment interface for establishing a wireless data connection with electronic computing devices 40 by means of Bluetooth Low Energy and, if necessary, by means of a wireless local area network. The introduction device interface 32 enables the connection and operation of different terminal devices, such as wearable devices or multiport devices, for example aromatherapy machines, entity avatars, control components or projectors. By means of a simple and safety-standard-compliant coupling process, it is possible to ensure a secure connection and data transmission by means of the introduction device interface 32. A certificate issued by means of a black / white list can prevent the use of pirated software for terminal devices that communicate with the motor vehicle 12.

[0044] Figure 5A network architecture scheme is shown. Depending on whether a Bluetooth Low Energy chip is installed in the motor vehicle 12, the entity avatar communicates directly with the electronic computing device 40 or via ConMod2.0 76 with the electronic computing device 40. The electronic computing device 40 can also be referred to as an ICP. The certificate validation with the cloud and thus with the superior server device 26 can be implemented via ConMod2.0 76 through the online connection of the motor vehicle 12 if required. The user 78 can connect new end devices by inputting via the human-machine interface 64.

[0045] By introducing the device interface 32, the end devices can be connected to the motor vehicle 12 via Bluetooth Low Energy technology and can be connected at various locations in the motor vehicle 12, for example on the dashboard or in the area of the rear seats. The introduction of the device interface 32 enables the end devices, like the entity avatar, to be integrated in the vehicle 12 retroactively and enables the necessary communication between these end devices and the electronic computing device 40, in particular the vehicle infotainment system of the vehicle 12.

[0046] Overall, the application shows how the connectivity of the entity avatar is implemented.

[0047] List of reference signs

[0048] 10 Seat

[0049] 12 Motor vehicle

[0050] 14 Communication device

[0051] 16 Dashboard

[0052] 18 Body

[0053] 20 Head

[0054] 22 Screen device

[0055] 24 Motion device

[0056] 26 Server device

[0057] 28 First data connection

[0058] 30 Second data connection

[0059] 32 Device interface

[0060] 34 Mobile electronic end device

[0061] 36 Digital key

[0062] 38 Smartphone

[0063] 40 Electronic computing device

[0064] 42 Electromechanical interface

[0065] 44 near field communication device

[0066] 46 extension component

[0067] 48 digital assistant

[0068] 50 data source

[0069] 52 speaker recognition

[0070] 54 semantic interpretation of voice input

[0071] 56 function-specific logic

[0072] 58 generating voice output

[0073] 60 speaker device

[0074] 62 generating HMI display content

[0075] 64 human-machine interface

[0076] 66 generating emotional state

[0077] 68 avatar control

[0078] 70 motion and gaze direction

[0079] 72 state visualization

[0080] 74 function-specific animation

[0081] 76 ConMod 2.0

[0082] 78 user

Claims

1. A system comprising a motor vehicle (12) and a communication device (14), wherein, The communication device (14) comprises a main body (18), a head (20) arranged on the main body (18), the head (20) comprising screen means (22) for outputting optical display content for the purpose of communication with an occupant of the motor vehicle (12), the communication device further comprising movement means (24) for moving the head (20) relative to the main body (18), the communication device further comprising control means for controlling the movement means (24) and / or the screen means (22), the communication device further comprising interface means by means of which a mechanical and electrical connection can be reversibly established between the communication device (14) and the motor vehicle (12) for the purpose of supplying power and / or transmitting data, the communication device further comprising storage means in which a plurality of different display contents and / or movement sequences of the head (20) relative to the main body (18) are stored, wherein the control means are configured to receive a control signal from the motor vehicle (12), to select one of the display contents stored in the storage means in accordance with the received control signal and to trigger output of the display content, and / or to select one of the movement sequences stored in the storage means and to trigger execution of the movement sequence.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, The interface means are configured to establish a mechanical connection and a wireless connection between the communication device (14) and the motor vehicle (12).

3. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The motor vehicle (12) comprises computing means (40) which are configured to select an action of the communication device (14) in response to a detected input of a vehicle occupant or a behavior of a vehicle occupant and to provide the control means of the communication device (14) with a control signal which characterizes the action.

4. The system of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The system further comprises a superior server device (26) which is connected to the motor vehicle (12) by means of a first data connection (28), wherein the motor vehicle (12) is connected to the communication device (14) by means of a second data connection (30).

5. The system of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The motor vehicle (12) has a plurality of mating interface means at different locations within a vehicle interior of the motor vehicle (12), which mating interface means can each interact with the interface means of the communication device (14).

6. A method for operating a system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The control signal is received from the motor vehicle (12) by means of the control means of the communication device (14) and the display content stored in the storage means is selected in accordance with the received control signal and output of the display content is triggered, and / or the movement sequence stored in the storage means is selected and execution of the movement sequence is triggered.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The control signal is provided by means of the motor vehicle (12) on the basis of an analysis of a voice input of a vehicle occupant by the motor vehicle (12).

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The control signal is provided by means of the motor vehicle (12) on the basis of information received by the motor vehicle (12) from a superior server device (26).

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that, The extension information stored in the extension memory device of the extension assembly (46) is read by means of the communication device (14) and transmitted to the motor vehicle (12), a data set is requested by means of the motor vehicle (12) from a superior server device (26) in accordance with the extension information, and the data set received from the server device (26) is transmitted by the motor vehicle (12) to the communication device (14), the data set characterizing at least one optical display content and / or at least one movement sequence.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, The optical display content characterized by the data set and / or the movement sequence characterized by the data set is stored in a memory device of the communication device (14).

Images