User interface, means of transport, app and method for controlling a wireless communication device by means of a means of transport

Abstract

Method for controlling a wireless communication device (1) by means of a means of transportation (10), comprising the steps: - Sending (500) a trigger signal from the means of transport (10) to the wireless communication device (1) and - Activating (600) a program sequence, hereinafter referred to as "macro" (4), in the wireless communication device (1) in response to the reception of the trigger signal; characterized in that the method further comprises the step: - Triggering (400) the trigger signal by a geofencing function of the means of transport (10).

Description

State of the art

[0001] The present invention relates to a user interface, a means of locomotion, an app, and a method for controlling a wireless communication device by means of a means of locomotion. More precisely, the invention relates to a method according to the preamble of independent claim 1, a user interface according to the preamble of independent claim 9, and a corresponding sequence control. Such a method, such a user interface, and such a sequence control are known from US 2015 / 0302738 A1, US 2013 / 0226369 A1, DE 10 2014 005 796 A1, and US 2013 / 0157647 A1.

[0002] US 2014 / 0038669 A1 discloses that a management block contains priority definitions for launching and displaying applications on two connected devices, namely an in-vehicle device and a smartphone. In response to external input from the two devices, the management block selects the application to be launched and displayed. The management block identifies the device on which the selected application resides and transmits a request to the identified device to launch the application and switch the display output accordingly.

[0003] There are systems available on the market, such as MirrorLink or CarPlay, that aim to transmit commands entered via the vehicle's controls to a wireless communication device via a connection. At the interface, individual commands are sent from the vehicle to the wireless communication device. The processing of these commands is then carried out directly by the apps on the wireless communication device. A disadvantage of this system is that only a limited number of apps can be controlled by the vehicle. Operating the wireless communication device while driving is cumbersome, compromises safety, and is only permitted to a limited extent by law. Therefore, the customer's other familiar apps are unavailable while driving.

[0004] In the prior art, controlling a wireless communication device using a means of transportation is only possible to a limited extent. Many apps can currently only be operated directly on the smartphone. It is therefore an object of the present invention to eliminate or mitigate the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0005] The aforementioned problem is solved according to the invention by a method for controlling a wireless communication device by means of a means of transport. The means of transport can be a car, van, truck, motorcycle, aircraft, and / or watercraft. The wireless communication device is preferably a smartphone. In a first step, a trigger signal is sent from the means of transport to the wireless communication device. Within the scope of the present invention, a trigger signal is understood to be an information signal that can be interpreted by the wireless communication device. At a minimum, the trigger signal is capable of addressing the wireless communication device. It is conceivable that the manner in which the generation of the trigger signal is initiated in the vehicle is configurable.Subsequently, a program sequence, hereinafter referred to as a "macro," is activated in the wireless communication device upon receipt of the trigger signal. The macro can be programmed anywhere within the wireless communication device. For example, an app can be started or closed via the macro. Alternatively or additionally, commands within an app can be executed. Multiple apps can also be started, for example, in a predefined sequence, and operated by the macro in a predefined manner. A macro corresponds to a fixed program sequence. An example of a prior art app that can be used to program sequences / macros according to the present invention is "Makrodroid." A simple macro can, for example, trigger the program sequence to switch a camera on or off. However, controlling any app is also conceivable.As an example, consider "smart home" apps that can control electronic devices in a household via smartphone and / or the internet. For instance, a trigger signal can be used to turn the heating on or off, open or close a garage, or switch the air conditioning on or off. A trigger signal can also activate a camera, for example, to film racetrack videos. Furthermore, a standardized SMS or WhatsApp message can be sent via a trigger signal to announce an imminent arrival or to order a ride via the Uber app. In particular, geofencing can be activated and used when traveling to a recurring destination such as a park-and-ride lot, home, or work address (for example, to trigger home automation functions).Alternatively, a trigger signal can be used to report a speed check or traffic jam. A trigger signal can also start or stop a timer, for example, to time a race. The trigger signal can, for instance, display a message on a wireless communication device. Furthermore, an app (e.g., "Talk") can be used to read aloud a website, flight arrival times, news, tweets, etc., upon receiving the trigger signal.

[0006] The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0007] Activation preferably occurs via an interface, which may be a Bluetooth interface, a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface, a USB interface, and / or a WLAN interface. The trigger signal is transmitted to the wireless communication device via this interface.

[0008] The trigger signal is automatically activated by a geofencing function of the vehicle. For example, a trigger signal can be activated when the remaining travel time to the home location falls below a certain threshold. This allows, for instance, a smart home app to automatically switch on the heating system in the house. Alternatively or additionally, the trigger signal can be activated by receiving user input via a control element on the vehicle. This control element could be a button on the steering wheel and / or the center console of the vehicle. It is also conceivable that the control element could be an input field on a touchscreen of the vehicle.

[0009] In a further preferred embodiment, a first control element of the operating device is associated with a first macro, and in particular, a second control element of the operating device is associated with a second macro. In other words, the macros are predefined as favorites in the means of transport. Similarly, it is conceivable that further control elements of the operating device of the means of transport could each be associated with a macro. This is advantageous because the macros can then be quickly and easily accessed via a control element. In this way, a wide variety of apps can be controlled via the control elements when they are called up and operated by the macros.

[0010] To improve macro control, the process could include a step of displaying a list of available macros. This list could be displayed on the wireless communication device's screen. The next step involves receiving user input via a control element of the device, representing a macro, to start the macro. For example, users could scroll through the macros using the device's controls and select a macro to start it and / or define it as a favorite.

[0011] Furthermore, it is preferable that, in a subsequent step, a list of available macros is imported from the wireless communication device into the vehicle. This is advantageous because, in a further step, the list of available macros can then be displayed on a screen in the vehicle. This eliminates the need for the user to look at the small display of the wireless communication device. They can view the list of available macros directly on the vehicle's screen. Preferably, a user can select a macro directly from the list of available macros using the controls on the vehicle's screen and thus start it or define it as a favorite.

[0012] Furthermore, the association of a control element of the operating device with a macro from the list can preferably be achieved by receiving user input via a control element of the vehicle's operating device. In this way, a macro can be associated with a control element of the operating device. This can preferably occur when the journey begins. Thus, a user can associate controls of the operating device with macros at the start of the journey. During the journey, it is then no longer necessary for the user to, for example, scroll through a list. They can directly control a macro using a control element of the vehicle. These process steps can also be combined.Preferably, one control element of the operating device can be provided for scrolling through a list, another control element for selecting the highlighted macro, while at least one further control element of the operating device is directly associated with a macro. The design of the further controls can correspond to the first control element. In this way, favorites can be selected from a list of macros and associated with controls of the operating device before starting a journey. In this way, the favorites from the macro list can be accessed directly and easily via the associated controls during the journey.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a device (e.g., in the form of a user interface) for a means of transportation is proposed. This device includes a trigger unit. The trigger unit is configured to send a trigger signal from the means of transportation to a wireless communication device upon response to a predefined condition. The trigger signal is designed such that a macro in a wireless communication device (previously) coupled to the means of transportation is activated upon receiving the trigger signal.

[0014] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a means of transport is proposed which can be designed, for example, as a car, van, truck, motorcycle, aircraft and / or watercraft. The means of transport comprises a device according to the second aspect of the invention and thus also realizes the features, combinations of features and advantages associated with the second aspect of the invention.

[0015] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a computer program product for a wireless communication device is proposed. The computer program product (also referred to as "program code" or "sequence control") comprises instructions which, when executed by a programmable processor of the wireless communication device, configure the device to recognize a received trigger signal from a trigger / transmitting device of a means of transportation according to the third aspect of the invention. For the purposes of the present invention, a transmitting device is understood to be, for example, a WLAN interface, a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface, a USB interface, or a Bluetooth interface, through which a trigger signal can be received. The program code is further configured to start a macro of the wireless communication device upon receiving the trigger signal.

[0016] Further details, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the figures. These show: Fig. 1 a diagram of a means of transport with a state-of-the-art user interface and a smartphone; Fig. 2 a scheme of a means of transport according to the invention with a user interface and a smartphone; Fig. 3 a schematic representation of an embodiment of a passenger car designed according to the invention; Fig. 4 A flowchart illustrating the steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method for controlling a wireless communication device by means of a means of transportation.

[0017] Fig. Figure 1 shows a diagram of a means of transportation 10 and a prior art wireless communication device designed as a smartphone 1, which are connected to each other via a coupling 5. The means of transportation 10 has a display 12, control elements 14, and an evaluation unit 13. The smartphone 1 has an evaluation unit 2 and various apps 3. According to the prior art, various apps 3 can be controlled via the control elements 14 of the means of transportation 10. However, only selected apps 3 can be controlled. Furthermore, the apps 3 are controlled directly via the control elements 14 through the coupling 5.

[0018] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a means of locomotion 10 according to the invention and a smartphone 1. In contrast to the prior art, the smartphone 1 has a series of macros 4 which together form a sequence control. The coupling of the control elements 14 and the evaluation unit 13 is effected via the evaluation unit 2 of the smartphone and the macros 4 of the smartphone 1. In contrast to the prior art, the coupling 5 here takes place via the macros 4. The apps 3 of the smartphone 1 are thus controlled indirectly via the macros 4. A macro 4 can be programmed for each app 3, or a sequence of control of an app 3 can be programmed as a macro 4.

[0019] Fig. Figure 3 shows a car 10, which represents an embodiment of a means of transportation according to the invention. Operating elements 14, an evaluation unit 13, a display 12, and a trigger device 15 are shown schematically. A transmitter 11 is also shown, which sends trigger signals to a wireless communication device represented as a smartphone 1.

[0020] Fig.Figure 4 shows the steps of an embodiment of a method according to the invention for controlling a wireless communication device by means of a means of transportation. In step 100, a list of available macros is first imported from the data communication device into the means of transportation. This is an optional step that serves to prepare the subsequent steps. In step 200, the list is displayed on a display device of the means of transportation. In step 300, a control element of the operating device of the means of transportation is associated with a macro, preferably by receiving user input via a control element of an operating device of the means of transportation. This step is only necessary once. Advantageously, several control elements can be associated with several macros in this way. Subsequently, each control element is associated with a macro.It is conceivable that only a subset of the available macros from the macro list are associated with a particular control element. These macros are then associated with their respective controls as favorites. A control element can be a button, for example, on the steering wheel or center console of the vehicle, or a control panel on a touchscreen. In step 400, a trigger signal is generated by a geofencing function of the vehicle. According to the invention, this eliminates the need for a geofencing function maintained in the wireless communication device and / or conserves the energy storage of the wireless communication device. In step 500, the trigger signal is sent from the vehicle 10 to a wireless communication device 1. In step 600, a program sequence or macro in the wireless communication device 1 is activated upon receiving the trigger signal.

[0021] The result is that a means of transport enables convenient control of a wireless communication device, especially a smartphone, via macros. Reference symbol list: 1 Smartphone 2 Evaluation unit of the smartphone 3 Apps 4 Macros 5 coupling 10 means of transport 11 transmitting unit 12 Display 13 Evaluation unit of the means of transport 14 controls 15 Trigger setup 100-600 process steps

Claims

[1] Method for controlling a wireless communication device (1) by means of a means of transportation (10), comprising the steps: - Sending (500) a trigger signal from the means of transport (10) to the wireless communication device (1) and - Activating (600) a program sequence, hereinafter referred to as "macro" (4), in the wireless communication device (1) in response to the reception of the trigger signal; characterized by , that the procedure further includes the step: - Triggering (400) the trigger signal by a geofencing function of the means of transport (10). [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the activation is carried out via an interface which is a Bluetooth interface, a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface, a USB interface and / or a WLAN interface. [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims further comprising the step - Triggering (400) the trigger signal by - Receiving user input via a control element (14) of an operating device of the means of transport (10). [4] Method according to claim 3, wherein a first control element (14) of the control device is associated with the macro (4). [5] Method according to one of claims 3 or 4 comprising the steps - Display (200) a list of available macros (4) and - Receiving (300) a user input by means of a control element (14) of the control device representing a macro (4) to send the trigger signal. [6] Method according to one of claims 3, 4 or 5 comprising the steps - Importing (100) a list of available macros (4) from the wireless communication device (1) into the means of transport (10) and - Displaying (200) the list in a display device (12) of the means of transport (10). [7] Method according to any one of claims 3 to 6 comprising the step - Associating (300) a control element (14) of the control device with a macro (4). [8] User interface for a means of transport (10) comprising - a trigger device (15) wherein the trigger device (15) is configured to send a trigger signal from the means of transport (10) to a wireless communication device (1) coupled to the means of transport (10), wherein the trigger signal is configured to start a macro (4) stored on the wireless communication device (1); characterized by , that the trigger device (15) is further configured to trigger the trigger signal through a geofencing function of the means of transport (10). [9] Means of transport with a user interface according to claim 8. [10] Sequence control (4) for a wireless communication device (1) which is configured to perform the following steps: - Detection of a trigger signal from a means of transport (10); and - Activating a macro (4) in response to the detection of the trigger signal; wherein the sequence control configures a wireless communication device (1) to participate in a method according to one of claims 1 to 7.

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