Driver information system with links to search functions of individual services

Abstract

Driver information system (10) for a vehicle, with a user interface (18) and with a plurality of services (26-28) that can be accessed by an operator via the user interface (18), wherein the user interface (18) includes a main search function (30) with which search results of various services (26-28) can be determined, and the services (26-28) each include a service search function with which search results of a corresponding service (26-28) can be determined; characterized by the fact that the user interface (18) is set up to simultaneously display the main search function (30) and at least one link (32) to a service search function of one of the services (26-28), wherein the driver information system (10) is further configured to transmit a search string already entered in the main search function to the service search function of the associated service (26-28) when the link (32) is activated, and to transfer it to a search mask of the service search function and to switch to a view of this search mask of the service search function.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a driver information system for a vehicle and a method for operating a driver information system of a vehicle. The vehicle can be, in particular, a motor vehicle and, more particularly, a passenger car or a truck.

[0002] It is known that driver information systems can be operated via user inputs. User inputs can be entered using various input modes. For example, typically available are a voice input mode, a keyboard input mode (where the keyboard can also be simply displayed on a display device, i.e., a so-called soft keyboard), operation via a rotary push-button switch, handwriting input (e.g., by finger movements on a touch-sensitive surface), or gesture recognition. According to the invention, all of these input modes can also be provided alone or in any combination.

[0003] Depending on the input mode, a driver information system operator requires varying degrees of attention and skill. If the operator is the vehicle driver themselves and not, for example, another vehicle occupant, who may also be an operator of the driver information system, this can adversely affect attention while driving the vehicle.

[0004] It is also known that services may have search functions to search for relevant search results within the data assigned to or accessible from these services. However, it may be time-consuming or even iterative for a user to identify the appropriate service or to iteratively try out the search functions of various services to find the information they need.

[0005] An object of the invention is therefore to simplify the operation of a driver information system, in particular to the extent that the operating comfort from the driver's point of view is increased and / or that search inputs are possible with a low potential for distraction from road traffic.

[0006] The technological background of so-called metasearch engines can be found in the corresponding article on Wikipedia.de. The following scientific article also discloses a solution for simultaneously displaying search results from different categories after entering a search in a vehicle information system: Graf, Stefan, et al. In-car interaction using search-based user interfaces. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 2008, pp. 1685-1688, DOL: 10.1145 / 1357054.1357317.

[0007] This object is achieved with a driver information system according to the appended claim 1 and a method according to the appended claim 8. Advantageous further developments are specified in the dependent claims. It is understood that all of the features and embodiments mentioned in the introduction can also be provided in or applied to the present invention.

[0008] A first insight of the invention is to provide, in addition to service-specific search functions, which are also referred to herein as service search functions, a main search function configured to determine search results from and / or for and / or from multiple services. Figuratively speaking, the main search function can search multiple services simultaneously. Such a main search function can also be referred to as a global search function.

[0009] Furthermore, according to a basic concept of the invention, the main search function is displayed in a user interface (e.g., in at least one view of the user interface), for example, when no individual service has been called up and / or is primarily operating, while simultaneously displaying the link to a service search function of at least one of the services. Preferably, a plurality of such links can be displayed simultaneously.

[0010] An operator can thus access the main search function and, if preferred, enter a search query directly (e.g., via voice command, keyboard input, or handwriting recognition). A corresponding search mask can be displayed for this purpose. At the same time, the operator is shown a link to at least one of the service-specific service search functions. This also gives the operator the option of switching directly to the corresponding service search function, for example, if they prefer to receive results from the associated service.

[0011] This can reduce the likelihood that irrelevant search results from irrelevant services will be displayed to the user via the main search function. For example, when searching for an address, the user can then directly call up the service search function of a navigation service via the corresponding link and thus avoid music tracks or similar irrelevant content being displayed as search results via the main search function as a result of entering an address. This increases ease of use, but can also enable more direct and intuitive operation, requiring less attention, particularly when interpreting the search results provided. This reduces the potential for distraction when operating the driver information system and increases safety, as the driver's attention is less impaired.

[0012] Specifically, the invention proposes a driver information system for a vehicle having a (e.g. graphical) user interface and having a number of services that can be called up by an operator via the user interface, wherein the user interface comprises a main search function with which search hits for various services can be determined (e.g. by simultaneously searching and / or accessing the corresponding services) and the services each comprise a service search function with which search hits for a corresponding service (and preferably exclusively for a corresponding service) can be determined; wherein the user interface is configured to simultaneously display the main search function (e.g. a search mask thereof) and a link to a search function for at least one of the services.

[0013] The (preferably graphical) user interface can be displayable using a display device of the information system used. This can in particular be a touch-sensitive screen (touchscreen). The user interface can comprise a plurality of views that can be called up in accordance with user input. In particular, the user interface can define a menu structure through which the user can navigate with the aid of suitable user input. The services can define callable or activatable menu items within this menu structure. For example, links to the services can be displayed in at least one view of the user interface. These links can be virtual input elements and / or text fields or symbols (or icons). An operator can, for example, tap or otherwise activate these, whereupon the associated service is called up and executed.

[0014] To determine search results (from and / or in and / or for) various services, the main search function can actively (i.e., directly) search these services or the data associated with them or retrievable from them. However, it can also access the service search functions of these services, for example, by passing a search string entered via the main search function to these service search functions and then receiving search results from them based on this search. The main search function can therefore only indirectly determine the search results of the various services.

[0015] The service search functions, on the other hand, can preferably only identify search results for a respective associated service, whereby these in turn can search data that is assigned to the service and / or can be retrieved from it (e.g. online).

[0016] The service may be, for example, a navigation service, a music playback service, a radio service, a (digital) user manual, or a (digital) address book. Any of these services may be provided alone or in any combination in a driver information system according to the invention.

[0017] The main search function and the service functions can each include displayable search masks (e.g., a search field or a text field that can be filled in based on user input). Furthermore, the main search function and the service functions can each include display areas for a hit list in which the retrieved search results are displayed. The hit list can also be dynamically updated, for example, depending on when individual search results are retrieved and / or whether further user input is received. Upon receipt of at least one character of a search string, the search can begin immediately, and previously retrieved search results can be displayed, for example, in a corresponding hit list.

[0018] The link to a service search function can be displayed as a text field and / or an icon. For example, the text field can contain an identifying information and / or name of the associated service. For a navigation service, the text field can contain the terms "Navi" or "Navigation," for example; a music playback service can be identified by the term "Music," etc.

[0019] The links can be accessed by tapping or otherwise activating them. This allows switching from a view of the user interface to a view of the service, and in particular to a view displaying the service search function of the associated service. This view can completely fill a display device and / or completely overlay a view of the user interface. However, only a partial overlay is also possible, e.g., when the view of the service is displayed as a pop-up.

[0020] In addition to the advantages explained above, one finding according to the invention is that an operator, for example after starting the vehicle, initially interacts with the user interface as standard, or this user interface is displayed on a display device of the driver information system. If they wish to carry out a search, they will therefore often initially start from the main search function, or this is generally displayed as the starting point as standard. However, using the simultaneously displayed links provided according to the invention, the operator can directly activate a more targeted search and switch to the service search functions of the services. They do not have to, as was the case with previous solutions, first search for a link to the service within the user interface, then call up the service, and then navigate within the service to the desired service search function.This increases operating comfort, reduces the required operating time and also the level of attention required from the driver, which in turn leads to an improvement in the achievable level of safety.

[0021] According to a further development, when a link is activated, the associated service and / or its service search function can be displayed.

[0022] In particular, according to one embodiment, when a link is activated, the main search function may no longer be displayed and / or may no longer be operable. Instead, the service associated with the link and / or its service search function may be displayed.

[0023] In summary, activating a link allows switching between the main search function and the service search functions and / or the services of the corresponding link. For example, in the manner explained above, views of the user interface can be at least partially replaced by views of the services, with these views of the services then preferably containing the service search function and / or displaying a search mask for it. This enables fast and intuitive navigation within the driver information system.

[0024] A further embodiment provides that the driver information system is configured to transmit a search string already entered from the main search function to the service search function of the associated service (i.e., service associated with the link) at the latest when a link is activated. As mentioned, the main search function can only indirectly determine search hits from the services and, for this purpose, access service search functions of these services. In this case, a search string from the main search function can also be transmitted to the service search functions before a link is activated, but preferably without this leading to a changed view or display content of the user interface. In particular, in this case the services themselves and / or their service search functions cannot be displayed.However, it is also possible to only pass the search string to the service search functions when a corresponding service is called via an associated link.

[0025] According to the invention, it is provided in this context that the search string of the main search function is transferred into a search mask of the service search function.

[0026] For example, if the service search function is called up, the search string of the main search function can be displayed immediately. Preferably, the search string of the main search function is also displayed even if no link has been activated yet. For example, it can be continuously completed according to a voice input or a keyboard operation and displayed in a search mask of the main search function. However, if a switch to a service search function occurs by activating a link, the search string can also be displayed immediately in or for this, for example in a search mask of this service search function. For example,When an operator enters the search string "Bahnh" using the displayed soft keyboard and then calls up a navigation service via the link, the user is taken to a view of the navigation service and, in particular, to a search mask for the service search function of that navigation service. The search string "Bahnh" can then also be displayed there. A search string can also be referred to as a text string or search string.

[0027] According to a further development, search results from multiple services can be displayed simultaneously for a search string of the main search function. This can be done using the hit list described above. This can contain search results from multiple services and display them simultaneously.

[0028] In this context, it may further be provided that the search results can be displayed grouped by services. For example, the search results can be sorted, summarized, and / or arranged in a row by services. In particular, search results for the same service can be grouped and / or summarized or ordered as a group. Displaying corresponding groups can include identifying the associated services as a group and / or distinguishing them from other groups by at least partial framing, virtual bars, or other graphic elements.

[0029] A group can also be differentiated from other groups by a suitable choice of color (e.g., a specific colored group), a suitable choice of font (e.g., a specific font size, typeface, or font style for each group), or some other graphical differentiation. Each group can also be assigned an identifying feature, such as text or a symbol, that identifies the associated service. Preferably, however, this is achieved directly by assigning a link to the associated service to each group and displaying this link (e.g., in the same display area where the search results group is displayed).

[0030] More specifically, it can also be provided that a displayed group of search results is assigned the link to the service of that group. This can be understood as meaning that this link is displayed together with the group and / or that it is graphically identified in the same way as belonging to that group, for example, by having the same color, font, or position within a display area.

[0031] A user can thus receive direct feedback on which services contain relevant search results and can then directly access the service search function for that service using the corresponding link. This further increases ease of use and also reduces the required attention during operation.

[0032] According to a further development, links are only displayed for those services for which search results were determined based on a search string from the main search function. This particularly applies to the variant in which the main search function transmits the search string to the service search functions of the individual services in order to obtain search results from these services only indirectly.

[0033] In other words, when a search string is received, a search can be carried out in the individual service for relevant search hits in the background and preferably without this being graphically displayed to the user. This preferably takes place as soon as at least one character of the search string is present or has been entered. The link to it can only be displayed when a search hit has been determined for the service. The displayed links can also be continuously updated so that, for example, as the search string becomes increasingly complete or if search hits are only found with a delay, new links can be displayed or only appear gradually on a display device. This has the advantage that the user is not shown any links that are actually irrelevant.

[0034] The invention further relates to a method for operating a driver information system of a vehicle, wherein the driver information system comprises a user interface with a plurality of services that can be called by an operator via the user interface, and wherein the user interface comprises a main search function with which search results for various services can be determined, and the services each comprise a service search function with which search results for a corresponding service can be determined; and wherein the method comprises: simultaneously displaying the main search function and at least one link to a service search function of one of the services.

[0035] The method may include any further step and any further feature to provide all of the functionalities, operating states, interactions, and effects described herein, particularly when these are explained in connection with the driver information system. For example, all further developments, variants, and embodiments of identical driver information system features may also apply to the features of the method or be provided for them. In general, the method can be implemented with a driver information system according to any of the above and below aspects.

[0036] Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying schematic figures. Similar or equivalent features may be provided with the same reference numerals. Fig. 1 shows a driver information system according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the representation corresponds to a mixed form of actual components of the driver information system and functions provided thereby and / or services performed; Fig. 2 shows a flow chart for a method according to the invention which is used with the driver information system from Fig. 1 is executable; and Fig. 3 to Fig. 5 show examples of hit lists of the main search function of the driver information system from Fig. 1.

[0037] Fig. 1 shows a driver information system 10 according to the invention, which is installed in a vehicle (not separately shown), e.g., in a center console thereof. The driver information system 10 comprises a display device 12, preferably in the form of a touchscreen. Furthermore, the driver information system 10 comprises a processor device 14, which comprises at least one microprocessor and a memory device 16. Data can be stored in the memory device 16, and in particular software components and / or software applications that can be executed by the processor device 14 to provide the services described herein. The user interface can also be implemented as a corresponding software component and executed by the processor device 14.The processor device 14 can provide the functionalities described herein and / or carry out the steps according to the method by executing program instructions of the software components.

[0038] A graphical user interface 18 is displayed as a standard main work surface on the display device 12. This comprises several views assigned to individual items of a menu structure. An operator can navigate within the menu structure using user input and thereby call up the displayed views or switch between them.

[0039] In the example shown, user inputs can generally be made in the form of voice inputs (e.g. using a microphone device not shown separately), via a selectively displayable soft keyboard or via handwriting recognition.

[0040] The graphical user interface 18 includes a main search function 30, which is displayed in at least one view of the user interface 18. In particular, a search window or, in other words, a search mask of the main search function 30 is displayed. This can be a text field in which a search string, recognized, for example, based on a voice input, can be entered and / or in which such a search string can be typed using the keyboard.

[0041] Also shown are several services 26-28, which can be selectively called via the graphical user interface in accordance with a corresponding user input. Upon call, these services can be displayed on the display device 12 in addition to, but preferably instead of, the graphical user interface 18. The services 26-28 are in turn implemented as individual software components that are executed by the processor device 14 when called. In the example shown, these are a navigation service 26, a music playback service 27, and a (digital) manual 28. For this purpose, links can be displayed in at least one view of the graphical user interface 18, via which links an operator can then call up the corresponding services 26-28.

[0042] The main search function 30 described above is configured to retrieve search results via an indirect and / or direct search for services 26-28 as mentioned above. However, services 26-28 also each include a service search function to retrieve search results in data specific to these services 26-28.

[0043] In order to coordinate the various service search functions and, in particular, to achieve the aforementioned advantages, the main search function 30 (in particular, a search mask thereof) and links 32 to the respective services 26-28 are simultaneously displayed to an operator in at least one view of the graphical user interface 18 on the display device 12. The links 32 are, for example, text fields that can be activated or triggered via touch operation and that indicate the respective linked service 26-28 via a suitable label.

[0044] If one of the links 32 is activated, the view of the associated service 26-28 is switched from the graphical user interface 28. Preferably, the service search function for this service 26-28 is then displayed immediately. If a user has already begun entering a search string into the search mask of the main search function 30, this can be transferred directly to the service search function of the corresponding service or search mask and displayed to an operator. From the operator's perspective, this allows for a seamless transition. The service search function can then also determine search hits based on this search string and / or display a hit list determined based on this. However, this hit list then preferably contains exclusively search hits for the corresponding service 26-28.

[0045] In Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention which is used with the driver information system 10 from Fig. 1 is executable. In a step S1, the graphical user interface 18 is displayed on the display device 12, specifically in such a way that the main search function 30 and, at the same time, links 32 to the services 26-28 are displayed. In a step S2, an operator begins to enter a search for the main search function 30, which then appears, for example, as a search string in the search mask of the main search function 30. Preferably, search hits are then directly determined for all of the linked services 26-28, which in turn can be done in the indirect manner described above. These search hits can then, as exemplified below using the Fig. 3 to 5, as a hit list in addition to the main search function 30 and the links 32. In a step S3, the operator then activates one of the links 32. In a step S4, the display device 12 therefore switches to a view of the service 26-28 retrieved via the link 32. In the manner mentioned above, the service search function of this service 26-28 is preferably displayed, preferably with the previously entered search string already contained therein.

[0046] In the Fig. 3 to 5 display sample hit lists, such as those that can be retrieved by the main search function 30 as soon as a search string is present. The search hits for individual services are grouped and graphically marked as related to each other. Furthermore, the links are also assigned to these individual groups. A user can then directly identify the service for which particularly relevant search hits were retrieved and then switch directly to this service 26-28 via the link 32.

[0047] In Fig. 3 shows a variant in which a main search mask 31 is initially entered. Below this, three groups of search hits are displayed, which are identified as belonging to one another or as a group by spatial grouping and optional graphic framing using frames 33. Further options for graphically grouping and / or summarizing several search hits into a corresponding group were mentioned above. A first group 35 relates to search hits of the navigation service 26. The link 32 of this group 35 can then be used to switch directly to the navigation service 26. A second and a third group 35 then relate to search hits for the remaining services 27, 28 and each contain a link 32 to the respective service.

[0048] By positioning the links 32 between the group-specific search results, the variant of Fig. 3 the search results of the individual services 26-28 are further separated from each other and / or graphically separated by the links 32.

[0049] In the case of Fig. 4, the search hits are grouped in such a way that they are each opposite a link 32 to an associated service in a common row or at a common height of the display device 12. In other words, the link 32 can be arranged with at least one of the search hits of a group 35 in a common row or at a common height. The links 32 are in this case preferably graphic symbols. A size and in particular (row-by-row) height of these graphic symbols can correspond to the number of search hits. For example, one row can be used per search hit, so that for three search hits, three rows and a correspondingly dimensioned symbol can be provided. If there is only one search hit, the symbol can be correspondingly smaller (e.g., only comprise the size of one row). In summary, in the case of Fig. 4 search results and links 32 positioned next to each other.

[0050] In the variant of Fig. 5 shows that the search results are sorted using frame elements analogous to the example from Fig. 3. However, the links 32 are not grouped together with the search hits. Instead, the links 32 are arranged below the search hits or search hit groups 35. However, this is preferably done in the order of the corresponding groups 35. This means that the top link 32 applies to the top search hit group 35, the middle link applies to the middle search hit group 35, and so on.

[0051] With the variants of the Fig. 3 to 5 make it easier for an operator to switch to the relevant services 26-28 or to their service search functions. List of reference symbols 10 Driver information system 12 Display device 14 Processor setup 16 Storage device 18 graphical user interface 26 (Navigation) Service 27 (Music) Service 28 (Manual) Service 30 Main search function 31 Main search mask 32 Link 33 frame element 35 Group

Claims

[1] Driver information system (10) for a vehicle, comprising a user interface (18) and a plurality of services (26-28) which can be called up by an operator via the user interface (18), wherein the user interface (18) comprises a main search function (30) with which search hits of various services (26-28) can be determined, and the services (26-28) each comprise a service search function with which search hits of a corresponding service (26-28) can be determined; characterized by , that the user interface (18) is arranged to simultaneously display the main search function (30) and at least one link (32) to a service search function of one of the services (26-28), wherein the driver information system (10) is further configured, upon actuation of the link (32), to transmit an already entered search character string of the main search function to the service search function of the associated service (26-28) and to transfer it to a search mask of the service search function and to switch to a view of this search mask of the service search function. [2] Driver information system (10) according to claim 1, wherein upon actuation of a link (32) the associated service (26-28) and / or its service search function can be displayed. [3] Driver information system (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when a link (32) is activated, the main search function (30) is no longer displayed and / or can no longer be operated. [4] Driver information system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein search results from several services (26-28) can be displayed simultaneously for a search string of the main search function (30). [5] Driver information system (10) according to claim 4, wherein the search results can be displayed grouped by services (26-28). [6] Driver information system (10) according to claim 5, which is further configured to assign the link (32) to the service (26-28) of this group (35) to a displayed group (35) of search hits. [7] Driver information system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, which is further configured to display links (32) only from those services (26-28) for which search hits were determined on the basis of a search character string of the main search function (30). [8] A method for operating a driver information system (10) of a vehicle, wherein the driver information system (10) comprises a user interface (18) with a plurality of services (26-28) that can be called up by an operator via the user interface (18), and wherein the user interface (18) comprises a main search function (30) with which search results for various services (26-28) can be determined, and the services (26-28) each comprise a service search function with which search results for a corresponding service (26-28) can be determined; characterized by that the procedure includes: - simultaneous display of the main search function (30) and at least one link (32) to a service search function of one of the services (26-28), - when the link (32) is activated, transmission of an already entered search string of the main search function into a search mask of the service search function of the associated service, - Switch to a view of this search mask of the service search function.

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