Method for operating media output devices of plurality of motor vehicles, karaoke coordination device and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating media output devices (22, 24, 26) of a plurality of motor vehicles (10, 12, 14), a karaoke coordination device (34): determining (S9, S11) a plurality of users (16, 18, 20) of a karaoke system, each user being located in a motor vehicle; providing a decentralized network (40) having at least one data communication connection (42) for near-field communication between the at least two motor vehicles, the decentralized network having a predefined maximum effective range; for each determined user, determining a media output device of the corresponding motor vehicle; pre-determining an audio file describing a music track for playing within the karaoke system, generating a playback signal describing playback of the pre-determined audio file and synchronization of playback of the pre-determined audio file by the determined media output device; and transmitting the generated playing signal to each determined media output device through the distributed network.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating media output devices of a plurality of motor vehicles, a karaoke coordination apparatus and a motor vehicle. A media output device refers to a device or a group of devices designed for outputting media content. In the sense of the present invention, media content is sound media content, in particular a musical piece described by an audio file. Correspondingly, a media output device can also be referred to as a playback device or a music output device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Karaoke is very popular in many regions of the world. A high demand is observed for integrating karaoke applications into motor vehicles. Sharing a karaoke session between friends or people in the vicinity is part of the karaoke (singing together) philosophy. There are some applications (“Apps”) that enable singing together. Such applications connect multiple users via a cloud service.

[0003] US 2022 / 0254255 A1 describes a control device including a communication unit that receives input data from a terminal of a first member who is a member of a first family residing in a vehicle, wherein the input data indicates a family composition and a family stress of the first family, and a control unit that searches a database in which data indicating a family composition and a family stress of each of a plurality of families residing in vehicles are recorded, wherein it uses the input data received by the communication unit as a search key, selects a second family from among the families based on a search result obtained, and causes the communication unit to transmit notification data that notifies the first member of information for establishing a relationship with a second member who is a member of the selected second family.

[0004] From WO 2020 / 011203 a modified karaoke facility for a vehicle is known, which receives a request of a user in the vehicle to play a karaoke song and displays at least to the user an interface with the lyrics of the selected song. The on-board karaoke facility can record the song sung by the user using a microphone in the vehicle and superimpose the recording with the selected song via loudspeakers in the vehicle.

[0005] A disadvantage for users of karaoke applications when using them, in particular via transmission of the mobile network, is the additional costs for the mobile communication connection, the high latency (average 40 ms, together with large outliers) and the strong dependency on the mobile network. In the usual case, the uplink cannot provide high data rates, and the mobile network fluctuates strongly and / or there are gaps. This reduces the quality of use of the application and is also disadvantageous for the user experience. SUMMARY

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to improve the scalability of karaoke applications. For example, a karaoke application can be an application (“App”) for performing karaoke in a motor vehicle group.

[0007] This invention is based on the concept of providing a karaoke system for multiple participants from different vehicles. This system does not use a central backend or other central network, such as a conventional cloud server, for data transmission. Instead, it uses a decentralized data communication network based on near-field communication (NFC) rather than mobile communication. This reduces or even completely eliminates mobile network costs. The dependence on mobile networks is also reduced or eliminated accordingly. Limitations caused by mobile network deflection rates are also reduced or even completely eliminated. Direct interaction with adjacent vehicles is enabled and significantly improved, thereby significantly enhancing the social component within the participant group. Scalability is significantly improved, and in addition to karaoke functionality, users in vehicles stuck in traffic or parked vehicles can also enjoy entertainment. This also applies to users of autonomous vehicles or passengers not driving during their journey.

[0008] The method according to the invention for operating a media output device for multiple motor vehicles is executed by a karaoke coordination device.

[0009] A karaoke coordination device, also known as a karaoke equipment, refers to a device, a group of devices, or a device component configured to receive signals, evaluate signals, generate control signals based on the evaluation, and transmit the generated control signals to other devices or device components. Accordingly, a karaoke coordination device may include a receiving module for receiving signals, one or more microprocessors, and a transmitting module for issuing control signals. For example, a karaoke coordination device may also be designed as a karaoke facility or, for example, as a controller. Here, the karaoke coordination device may preferably be installed in one of the participating motor vehicles, or may consist of all the controllers of the participating motor vehicles.

[0010] The karaoke coordination device identifies the first user of the karaoke system, wherein the identified first user is located in the first vehicle. For example, the first user can be identified by logging into the user account of the karaoke application.

[0011] The karaoke coordination device provides a distributed network with at least one data communication connection suitable for near-field communication, wherein the distributed network has a pre-defined maximum effective range, within which the first vehicle is located. Therefore, the distributed network is a local area network (LAN), i.e., a peer-to-peer network, an autonomous self-organizing network, or a mesh network. For example, the karaoke coordination device of the first vehicle can be defined as the starting point of this effective range. In other words, the karaoke coordination device can be an associated base station defining the maximum effective range.

[0012] The two steps described above can also be performed in reverse order, for example, by first establishing a distributed network and then identifying individual users.

[0013] The karaoke coordination device identifies at least one additional user of the karaoke system, i.e., designates at least one additional user of the karaoke system. This at least one additional user is located in a separate vehicle, which is situated within a pre-defined valid area. Specifically, if a distributed network exists between two vehicles, the first user is located in the first vehicle, and the second user is located in the second vehicle. For example, if the distributed network comprises five vehicles, then each of the five vehicles can have a designated user. The additional user for the karaoke application can optionally be seated in each vehicle.

[0014] For each vehicle carrying a identified user, the karaoke coordination device determines the corresponding media output device. Specifically, for each vehicle, the karaoke coordination device determines the appropriate media output device as the receiving device for the playback signal generated by the karaoke coordination device. The karaoke coordination device connects each vehicle carrying the identified user to the provided distributed network. In other words, these vehicles form a karaoke system for karaoke applications.

[0015] The karaoke coordination device predetermines an audio file for playback within the karaoke system, wherein the predetermined audio file describes a musical track, i.e., a song. Here, the musical track is designed so that the audio file only plays the music, ideally excluding any vocal recordings originally made by the performer of the musical track. The karaoke coordination device generates a playback signal describing the playback of the predetermined audio file and the synchronization of playback of the predetermined audio file by designated media output devices. The karaoke coordination device then transmits the generated playback signal to each designated media output device via a distributed network.

[0016] This brings about the aforementioned advantages. Specifically, it achieves the advantages of independence from the backend and mobile network, improves synchronization due to the defined maximum effective range, and improves sound quality due to lower latency.

[0017] To further improve synchronization, it is preferable to specify that the pre-given maximum effective range is an effective range of 500 meters, particularly an effective range of 500 meters. This effective range can be defined, for example, as the effective range around the karaoke coordination device or around a pre-determined sub-component of the karaoke coordination device.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, to determine the at least one additional user, the karaoke coordination device can generate an inquiry signal and transmit it to the transmitting device of the corresponding motor vehicle via a provided data communication connection. Here, the generated inquiry signal can describe an inquiry about whether the user of at least one other motor vehicle is willing to participate in the karaoke application, i.e., whether the user of that other motor vehicle is willing to join the karaoke session. The karaoke coordination device can then receive a confirmation signal from the at least one other motor vehicle, which describes the consent of the user of the at least one other motor vehicle. In other words, the confirmation signal describes, for example, that a passenger in another motor vehicle is willing to participate in the karaoke session. For example, in a group of motor vehicles in a traffic jam, the first user can proactively inquire which of the other motor vehicle users in the group is willing to join. This proactive inquiry significantly enhances the enjoyment of the application.

[0019] The data communication connection provided is preferably a WLAN connection, and the generated interrogation signal can describe a beacon.

[0020] As an alternative to WLAN connectivity, data communication connections can be Bluetooth, vehicular-2X (i.e., data communication between a vehicle and infrastructure or between vehicles), or data communication with other vehicles, and / or edge cloud. Particularly when designing a distributed network as an edge cloud, the generated interrogation signals preferably describe beacons. Edge cloud or edge computing refers to distributed data processing performed at the network edge. When using beacons, it is preferable to distribute them via relay functionality that can operate at base stations, i.e., in the edge cloud.

[0021] In another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the karaoke coordination device can generate a music selection list signal and transmit the music selection list signal to each vehicle carrying a defined user, wherein the generated music selection list signal can describe a pre-given list of music tracks for a karaoke session. The karaoke session can then be understood as a karaoke application, or, for example, the next round of a karaoke game. The karaoke coordination device can then receive a selection signal from each of the other vehicles, the selection signal containing corresponding information about the music tracks selected by each defined user from the music track list for the karaoke application. The karaoke coordination device can then acquire the music tracks for the karaoke application based on all the information from the received selection signals. Subsequently, a generated playback signal describes the playback of the acquired music tracks for the karaoke application.

[0022] The advantage of doing this is that coordination and communication among participating users are faster.

[0023] To synchronize the output of acquired music tracks, the generated output signal may, for example, describe the time information of a GPS signal, or a GPS signal containing time information. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, to synchronize the playback of a predetermined audio file, the generated playback signal may describe at least one timestamp and a stipulation for synchronizing the output of acquired music tracks for a karaoke application according to the timestamp; and / or describe a message containing time information indicating the start of audio file playback.

[0024] Preferably, the karaoke coordination device can record individual microphone recordings from the microphones of one or more vehicles, preferably from the microphones of the corresponding user, describing the user's singing. The karaoke coordination device can then transmit the corresponding received audio signals to each media output device, or transmit the corresponding received audio signals only to selected media output devices. Preferably, in addition to the audio signals, the karaoke coordination device can also transmit time signals to one or more media output devices for synchronizing the recordings of at least one microphone with the playback of the music track.

[0025] For application examples or situations that may occur during the process of this method and are not explicitly described herein, it may be specified that, according to this method, error messages and / or requests for input user feedback may be output, and / or default settings and / or predetermined initial states may be set.

[0026] The present invention also includes a karaoke coordination device for a motor vehicle, the karaoke coordination device being configured to perform embodiments of the method according to the invention. The karaoke coordination device may also be referred to as, for example, a karaoke facility or karaoke equipment. The karaoke coordination device may have a data processing device or processor device (processor circuitry) configured to perform embodiments of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, the processor device may include at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or at least one DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Specifically, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or NPU (Neural Processing Unit) may be used as the microprocessor, respectively. Furthermore, the processor device may have program code configured to implement embodiments of the method according to the invention when executed by the processor device. This program code may be stored in the data memory of the processor device. The processor device may be based on, for example, at least one circuit board and / or at least one SoC (System on Chip).

[0027] The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as an automobile, particularly as a passenger car or commercial vehicle, or as a bus or motorcycle, and includes an embodiment of the karaoke coordination device according to the invention.

[0028] The above objective is also achieved by a karaoke system comprising at least two motor vehicles and an embodiment of the karaoke coordination device according to the invention.

[0029] The present invention also includes improvements to the karaoke coordination device according to the present invention, the motor vehicle according to the present invention, and the karaoke system according to the present invention, said improvements having the same features as those already described in conjunction with the improvements according to the method of the present invention. Therefore, corresponding improvements to the karaoke coordination device according to the present invention, the motor vehicle according to the present invention, and the karaoke system according to the present invention will not be described further here.

[0030] As a further solution, the present invention also includes a computer-readable storage medium containing program code that, when executed by a computer or computer network, causes the computer or computer network to perform an implementation of the method according to the invention. The storage medium may be provided at least partially as non-volatile data storage (e.g., as flash memory and / or as an SSD - solid-state drive) and / or at least partially as volatile data storage (e.g., as RAM - random access memory). The storage medium may be arranged in a computer or computer network. However, the storage medium may also operate, for example, as a so-called app store server and / or a cloud server in the Internet. A processor circuit having, for example, at least one microprocessor may be provided via the computer or computer network. The program code can be provided in the form of binary code and / or assembly code and / or source code in a programming language (e.g., C) and / or program scripts (e.g., Python). Alternatively, the computer-readable storage medium may also be implemented by a signal having computer-readable data, for example by a time-varying voltage signal and / or a radio signal.

[0031] The present invention also includes feature combinations of the described embodiments. Therefore, the present invention also includes the following implementations, each having a plurality of feature combinations of the described embodiments, provided that these implementations are not described as mutually exclusive. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Embodiments of the present invention are described below. In this regard, Figure 1 Schematic diagrams illustrating embodiments of the method according to the invention and embodiments of the device according to the invention are shown. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention. In the embodiments, the components described are individual, independent features of the present invention, and these features also independently improve the present invention. Therefore, this disclosure should also include feature combinations different from the feature combinations of the illustrated embodiments. Furthermore, the embodiments can also be supplemented by other features among the features already described in the present invention.

[0034] In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals denote elements that have the same function.

[0035] The accompanying diagram illustrates an example scenario in which multiple vehicles 10, 12, and 14 are, for example, in a traffic jam or in a parking lot. These vehicles could be, for example, passenger cars. In another example, vehicles 10, 12, and 14 could be autonomous vehicles, so that their drivers do not need to take over driving tasks and can sing karaoke together while the autonomous vehicles 10, 12, and 14 are in motion.

[0036] The accompanying diagram shows one user 16, 18, 20 in each of the vehicles 10, 12, 14, who can sing karaoke together in a karaoke application using the methods described below.

[0037] For each vehicle 10, 12, 14, the accompanying drawings show corresponding media output devices 22, 24, 26, and also illustrate advantageous designs in which each vehicle 10, 12, 14 has microphones 28, 30, 32, respectively. For clarity, the connection of microphones 28, 30, 32 to the corresponding media output devices 22, 24, 26 and / or to the karaoke coordination device 34, or for example, the data communication connection between microphones 28, 30, 32 and the karaoke coordination device 34, is not shown.

[0038] In the example shown in the accompanying drawings, the karaoke coordination device 34 can be designed, for example, as a karaoke facility for motor vehicle 10. Alternatively, each motor vehicle 10, 12, 14 may also have a sub-component of the karaoke coordination device 34. The karaoke coordination device 34 preferably has a data storage 36 and / or a processor device 38 with at least one microprocessor.

[0039] The accompanying drawings also show a distributed network 40, which preferably has a wireless data communication connection 42 between the karaoke coordination device 34 and the corresponding media output devices 22, 24, 26.

[0040] The data communication connection 42 is preferably a WLAN connection. The distributed network 40 is preferably a mesh network or an edge cloud. To connect participants in the karaoke application, the inquiry signal generated by the karaoke coordination device in S1 preferably describes a beacon. The karaoke coordination device 34 can then transmit (S2) the generated inquiry signal to the transmitting device (not shown in the figure) of the corresponding other vehicles 12, 14, wherein the transmitting device can be understood as a device, device group, or device component for transmitting signals. The transmitting device is preferably designed as a transmitting module. The generated inquiry signal describes whether the corresponding users 18, 20 of the other vehicles 12, 14 are willing to participate in the karaoke session, i.e., the karaoke application. In other words, the generated inquiry signal can describe whether the corresponding other users 18, 20 are willing to sing karaoke with user 16 of the first vehicle 10. Then, in S3, the karaoke coordination device 34 receives a confirmation signal describing the interest of the other user 18, 20, in other words, the desire to participate. This allows additional users to be identified as other participants in S4, namely, other users 18 and 20 of the karaoke system.

[0041] Even when the distributed network 40 is designed as an edge cloud, it is preferable to specify that the generated interrogation signal can describe the beacon.

[0042] In the example shown in the attached figure, the karaoke coordination device can identify user 16 of vehicle 10 as the first participant in the karaoke session in S9. By providing a distributed network 40 in S10, other users 18 and 20 can be identified in S11, and corresponding media output devices 22, 24, and 26 can be identified in S12. In S13, the karaoke coordination device 34 of vehicle 10 (e.g., as a base station) connects to the identified vehicles 10, 12, and 14 in the distributed network 40, which can have a pre-given maximum effective range of 500 meters around the karaoke coordination device 34 of vehicle 10, for example.

[0043] In S14, the music track selected by another player can be pre-determined as a corresponding audio file. In S15, the karaoke coordination device 34 generates a playback signal that describes the playback of the audio file and its synchronization. In S17, the karaoke coordination device 34 then transmits the generated playback signal to each designated media output device 22, 24, 26 via a distributed network 40.

[0044] In order to synchronize the playback in S16, the generated playback signal preferably describes a timestamp and / or information or message with time information, such as the specific time when the audio file playback started.

[0045] Optionally, the karaoke coordination device 34 can generate a music selection list signal in S5 and transmit it to each vehicle 10, 12, 14 in S6. This signal can, for example, describe a list of five music tracks for karaoke. The output of this music track list can, for example, be done through the screen of the corresponding vehicle 10, 12, 14. Then, in S7, a corresponding selection signal describing the corresponding selection of another user 16, 18, 20 can be received and evaluated in S8. Subsequently, in S15, the karaoke coordination device 34 generates a playback signal, which is then transmitted to each media output device 22, 24, 26 in S17. For example, the third music track in the music selection list can be described as the preferred music track for the next round of karaoke, i.e., a signal indicating that the media output devices 22, 24, 26 should output that music track.

[0046] The music output can preferably also be synchronized with microphone recordings from one of microphones 28, 30, and 32, wherein the corresponding audio signal describes the corresponding microphone recording. For example, the karaoke coordination device 34 can be used as an access point for receiving and forwarding the corresponding audio signals from microphones 28, 30, and 32, or an access point in an edge cloud can be used for this purpose. Other users 18 and 20 can hear not only the selected music track but also the singing of user 16. To selectively forward one or more microphone recordings, for example, only to media output devices 22, 24, and 26 located in vehicles 10, 12, and 14 where the corresponding users 16, 18, and 20 are not currently singing, for example, it can be stipulated that each vehicle 10, 12, and 14 can be assigned an IP address, and selective forwarding can be performed based on the IP address.

[0047] In summary, these examples demonstrate how a system and method for providing shared karaoke can be provided through direct communication between motor vehicles 10, 12, and 14.

[0048] The principle is to use direct communication for karaoke applications. Optionally, a proposal, i.e., an inquiry, can be sent to other nearby vehicles 12, 14, providing various different options for this purpose. Karaoke data transmission then occurs directly between vehicles 10, 12, 14 via one or more local networks 40. The primary objective is, in particular, to reduce reliance on mobile communications. This involves two or more vehicles 10, 12, 14 located in close proximity (i.e., preferably within a radius of 500 meters or less).

[0049] In one example, user 16 of at least one of these vehicles 10, 12, and 14 wants to start a karaoke session. To identify partners, a connection can be established as follows:

[0050] 1) Beacons can be sent in the following ways:

[0051] a. Preferably, it is an unlicensed frequency band, such as WLAN; or

[0052] b. Licensed frequency bands (mobile communication), such as 4G frequencies or 5G campus networks; or

[0053] c. Mesh network; or

[0054] d. V2X message.

[0055] When a user receives a beacon, they can decide whether they want to join the session.

[0056] 2) Optionally, one (or more) karaoke partners can be provided via an edge cloud (agent; operated by the mobile operator). Here, the edge cloud acts as an agent and checks whether other nearby vehicles 10, 12, and 14 want to join. Furthermore, inquiries can be sent to other vehicles 10, 12, and 14 from this location.

[0057] 3) Through an optional backend (agent): Here, users / vehicles for the karaoke service can be managed. The backend also knows the current location of vehicles 10, 12, and 14. Therefore, the optional backend acts as an agent, assigning additional users to the user who initiated the inquiry or notifying them.

[0058] Notifications to nearby users can be enabled or disabled through the settings in vehicles 10, 12, and 14.

[0059] For direct communication between motor vehicles 10, 12, and 14, the following connection technologies (“communication technologies”) are preferably used:

[0060] - WLAN (vehicles 10, 12, and 14 act as access points; if there are more than two users, selection is made through an algorithm); or

[0061] - Geographic network (V2X communication), using C-V2X, 5G-V2X, or WLANp; or

[0062] - Mesh network (multi-hop); or

[0063] - Communication is conducted via licensed frequency bands (mobile communication); or

[0064] - Through a. edge cloud solutions, cloud solutions, and mobile communication; or

[0065] - Private 5G frequency bands. Here, vehicle 10, 12, and 14 serve as a micro-solution to act as the 5G network (RAN & core network).

[0066] Once you have one or more karaoke partners, you can start a session. We recommend using one of the three optional session initiation methods:

[0067] 1. Select the songs for motor vehicles 10, 12, and 14 that issued the inquiry; and / or

[0068] 2. Match users with music preferences or favorite songs; and / or

[0069] 3. Vote for the song (ranking) while the session is waiting.

[0070] Optional matching criteria:

[0071] a. The motor vehicles 10, 12, and 14 that issued the inquiry, and the song selection; or

[0072] b. Music preferences or voting for favorite songs; or

[0073] c. Waiting time (ranking).

[0074] Optional: Use state machine video-to-speech for congestion / radio control and influence the amount of data to be transmitted through dynamic compression:

[0075] a. Transmit video + audio (voice); or

[0076] b. Compress video + audio; or

[0077] c. Limited to audio only; or

[0078] d. Compress audio; or

[0079] The appropriate compression method can be selected based on the available bandwidth in the channel (as shown at the end of the attached Word document). Available data rates (high and low): a > b > c > d

[0080] The compression effect can be enhanced by lossy compression.

[0081] Optional song start time (background):

[0082] a. If time is synchronized, add a timestamp.

[0083] b. If the delay is small, send a message.

[0084] For karaoke applications, the lyrics of a song can be optionally displayed on both sides.

[0085] The following three variants are provided as examples of features available to users 16, 18, and 20:

[0086] 1. Restricted to sending and receiving its own voice messages.

[0087] 2. (1) and transmitting other people's videos

[0088] 3. (2) The song to be listened to is transmitted from one motor vehicle 10 to another motor vehicle 12, 14.

[0089] Lyrics may be transmitted in advance or adjusted in advance in both systems.

[0090] To ensure simultaneous playback, it can be optionally specified in advance:

[0091] 1. Exchange the timestamps of the playback start time (assuming the two vehicles are synchronized at 10:00, 12:00, and 14:00 (e.g., via GNSS, i.e., GPS, etc.)); and / or

[0092] 2. The message is sent by one of the users (assuming a delay of less than 50 milliseconds, for example).

[0093] Here, the communication channel can be a direct connection between vehicles 10, 12, and 14 (see "Communication Technology"). Continuous monitoring of the channel quality is preferred. To this end, the following methods can be adopted:

[0094] - Send a Ping or other method used to measure latency; and / or

[0095] - Monitor radio parameters or signaling messages (MCS, RSRQ, SINR, signal strength) and estimate bandwidth; and / or

[0096] - Monitor the current frame rate (fps) or video quality.

[0097] According to the channel:

[0098] - Adjust the video (quality, frame rate); and / or

[0099] - Disable video; and / or

[0100] - Adjust audio quality.

[0101] Video quality can be selectively displayed to users in real time. Using edge cloud (i.e., transmission without going through a cloud system) can also be considered. This would allow for lower latency.

[0102] For example, a karaoke session (using direct communication) can be initiated during autonomous driving (platooning), during an encounter, or during traffic congestion.

[0103] In a preferred technical implementation, these variations can be achieved by developing new software or hardware components.

[0104] For wireless communication between systems, V2X / V2V technology can be used, for example.

[0105] The system and methodology can be implemented during the proof-of-concept phase. For example, the concept can be embedded in a framework for a karaoke system or user functionality. An automaker can participate in the standardization process of the system.

[0106] Specifically, the goal could be to identify participants and select songs. Identifying participants: for example:

[0107] - Sending a beacon, indicating that a session is about to begin (i.e., without going through a backend service); Advantages: independence from backend services and mobile communications; and communication with vehicles that do not use the same backend services;

[0108] - Limit the effective range of the beacon, that is, identify participants who can communicate without mobile communication;

[0109] - Optional edge cloud: Located at the base station; meaning it can communicate without internet access; the cloud is closer to the end user; lower latency; and does not rely on backend servers;

[0110] - Sending beacons via edge cloud also makes sense;

[0111] - Optional edge cloud is meaningful for motor vehicles 10, 12, and 14 that transmit data via the same mobile communication station;

[0112] - For edge cloud: Beacons are distributed via relay functions operating on base stations (i.e., in the edge cloud, for example).

[0113] Preferred extensions to options for transmitting audio streams:

[0114] To achieve simultaneous playback, you can

[0115] 1. Exchange the timestamps of the playback start time (preferably assuming that the two or more vehicles are synchronized at 10, 12, and 14 (e.g., via GNSS, i.e., GPS, etc.)); and / or

[0116] 2. The message is sent by one of the users (assuming a delay of less than 50 milliseconds, for example).

[0117] Here, the communication channel can be a direct connection between vehicles 10, 12, and 14 (see “Communication Technology”). In this case, the network delay can be calculated by estimation.

[0118] 3. For selected users, in addition to voice, they can also send the audio stream of the selected song.

Claims

1. A method for operating media output devices (22, 24, 26) of a plurality of motor vehicles (10, 12, 14), wherein, Karaoke coordination device (34): - determining (S9) a first user (16) of a karaoke system, said first user being located in a first motor vehicle (10); - providing (S10) a decentralized network (40) having at least one data communication connection (42) for near field communication, wherein the decentralized network (40) has a predefined maximum effective range, the first motor vehicle (10) being located within said predefined effective range; - determining (S11) at least one further user (18, 20) of the karaoke system, said at least one further user being located in a further motor vehicle (12, 14), respectively; - determining (S12), for each motor vehicle (10, 12, 14) carrying a determined user (16, 18, 20), a media output device (22, 24, 26) of the respective motor vehicle (10, 12, 14); - connecting (S13) each motor vehicle (10, 12, 14) carrying a determined user (16, 18, 20) with the provided decentralized network (40), - predetermining (S14) an audio file for playing within the karaoke system, wherein said predetermined audio file describes a musical piece, - generating (S15) a play signal, said play signal describing a play of said predetermined audio file and a synchronization of the play of said predetermined audio file by the determined media output devices (22, 24, 26), and - transmitting (S17) the generated play signal to each determined media output device (22, 24, 26) via the decentralized network (40).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The predefined maximum effective range is an effective range of 500 meters.

3. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, For determining said at least one further user (18, 20), the karaoke coordination device (34): - generates (S1) an inquiry signal and transmits (S2) said inquiry signal to a transmission device of the respective motor vehicle (10, 12, 14) via the provided data communication connection (42), said inquiry signal describing an inquiry as to whether a user (18, 20) of said at least one further motor vehicle (12, 14) is willing to participate in a karaoke application; and - receives (S3) a confirmation signal from said at least one further motor vehicle (12, 14), said confirmation signal describing an expression of consent of the user (18, 20) of said at least one further motor vehicle (12, 14).

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The provided data communication connection (42) is a WLAN connection, wherein the generated inquiry signal describes a beacon.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The decentralized network (40) is designed as an edge cloud; preferably wherein the generated inquiry signal describes a beacon.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The karaoke coordination device (34): - generates (S5) a music selection list signal and transmits (S6) said music selection list signal to each motor vehicle (10, 12, 14) carrying a determined user (16, 18, 20), wherein the generated music selection list signal describes a predefined list of musical pieces for a karaoke application; - receiving (S7) a selection signal from each of the further motor vehicles (12, 14), the selection signal containing respective information about a music piece preferred by the respective determined user (16, 18, 20) from a list of music pieces for a karaoke application; and - obtaining (S8) a music piece for the karaoke application from all information of the received selection signals; wherein the generated play signal describes a play of the obtained music piece.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, For synchronizing (S16) the play of the predetermined audio file, the generated play signal: - describes at least one time stamp and a provision for synchronizing the output of the obtained music piece for the karaoke application according to the time stamp; and / or - describes a message containing time information about a start of the play of the audio file.

8. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein, The karaoke coordination device (34) receives an audio recording signal from a microphone (28, 30, 32) of one of the motor vehicles (10, 12, 14) or from microphones (28, 30, 32) of a plurality of the motor vehicles (10, 12, 14), respectively, the audio recording signal describing a microphone recording of the respective microphone (28, 30, 32), preferably a microphone recording of the respective user (16, 18, 20), the microphone recording describing a singing of the user (16, 18, 20), and transmits (S17) the respective received audio signal to each media output device (22, 24, 26) or only to a selected media output device (22, 24, 26).

9. A karaoke coordination device (34) arranged to perform the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. A motor vehicle (10, 12, 14) having a karaoke coordination device (34) according to claim 9.

11. A karaoke system comprising at least two motor vehicles (10, 12, 14) and a karaoke coordination device (34) according to claim 9.

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