A method for presenting a current surrounding information on a display device, a computer program product, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for presenting a current surrounding information (32) on a display device (24) of a navigation device (12) of a motor vehicle (10), comprising the steps of: determini

Description

, as well as a navigation device. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for presenting a current surrounding information on a display device of a navigation device of a motor vehicle, according to the pending claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a corresponding computer program a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding navigation device. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] In-vehicle navigation systems, in particular so-called navigation devices that realistically describe roads and buildings on the screen are crucial not only for enhancing the driver's cognitive abilities and ensuring safe driving but also for providing visual enjoyment and other positive effects. Recently, there has been a growing trend of dynamic visualizations on building surfaces using media facades and various colors of lights that display videos and lights on the exteriors of buildings.

[0003] Additionally, drivers are increasingly demanding that multimedia content, such as media facades, various colors of lights, be realistically described in navigation.

[0004] According to state-of-the-art, methods are known where multimedia camera installed at the front of a motor vehicle recognizes the media facades are currently being displayed on a building, and maps it to the building within the navigation system. However, in cases of weather conditions such as rain or snow, or if another vehicle in front obstructs the camera's view, it becomes challenging to capture a clear image, thus limiting the effectiveness of this method. Moreover, when the driver rotates the building in the navigation system, it is impossible to know the surface screen from the rotated position, which leads to technical limitations. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding navigation device, by which the disadvantages according to the state-of-the-art are overcome.

[0006] In particular it is an object of the present invention to provide a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding navigation device, by which a current media of a media facade of a building can be presented on the display device of a motor vehicle in an improved manner.

[0007] This object is solved by a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding navigation device according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0008] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for presenting a current surrounding information on a display device of a navigation device of a motor vehicle. A building in the current surroundings is determined by the navigation device, wherein the building comprises at least one surface with a media facade. An online request about a current media of the media facade is generated by an electronic computing device of the navigation device. The current media is received by the electronic computing device depending on the online request and a virtual displaying of the received media on the building with the media facade by the display device is provided.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention relates to the method / a vehicle navigation system. The invention describes the method for receiving and displaying real-time information about buildings with media facades within the navigation display range. Ultimately, the aim is to enhance navigation visibility for a driver of the motor vehicle, thereby contributing to safer driving.

[0010] To display the vehicle's location and surrounding buildings on the display device, the navigation system retrieves road attribute information from the map. At this time, the buildings may have media facade attributes on their surfaces, and a media server URL from which media facade information can be retrieved may also be available. In this case, the navigation device accesses the media server through the internet and queries the media facade output schedule for the building's surface using its ID. If it is in a time when the media facade is active, it retrieves the media facade data along with its properties, for example size and play time. The downloaded media data is applied to the surface of the target building and displayed on the screen during play time. Since it applies media information to the specific surface, drivers can rotate the navigation screen to different angles, and the media will adjust accordingly to display at those angles.

[0011] According to an embodiment the media is received from an online platform aligned to the determined building.

[0012] In another embodiment, if no current media is available, a default skin is displayed on the building with the media facade.

[0013] In another embodiment just buildings within the current displayed area are potentially determined as buildings with a media facade.

[0014] In another embodiment the buildings with the media facade are captured by a multimedia camera of the motor vehicle.

[0015] In another embodiment additionally at least the size of the media and / or a play time of the media is received by the electronic computing device.

[0016] In particular, the method is a computer-implemented method. Therefore, another aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to the preceding aspect.

[0017] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product according to the preceding aspect.

[0018] Another aspect of the invention relates to a navigation device for a motor vehicle for presenting a current surrounding information, comprising at least one display device and one electronic computing device, wherein the navigation device is configured for performing a method according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the method is performed by the navigation device.

[0019] A still further aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least the navigation device according to the preceding aspect.

[0020] Advantageous embodiments of the method are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the computer program product, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the navigation device, as well as the motor vehicle. The navigation device as well as the motor vehicle therefore comprises means for performing the method.

[0021] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and / or shown the figures alone can be employed not only respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention. A computing unit / electronic computing device may in particular be understood as a data processing device, which comprises processing circuitry. The computing unit can therefore in particular process data to perform computing operations. This may also include operations to perform indexed accesses to a data structure, for example a look-up table, LUT.

[0022] In particular, the computing unit may include one or more computers, one or more microcontrollers, and / or one or more integrated circuits, for example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits, ASIC, one or more field-programmable gate arrays, FPGA, and / or one or more systems on a chip, SoC. The computing unit may also include one or more processors, for example one or more microprocessors, one or more central processing units, CPU, one or more graphics processing units, GPU, and / or one or more signal processors, in particular one or more digital signal processors, DSP. The computing unit may also include a physical or a virtual cluster of computers or other of said units.

[0023] In various embodiments, the computing unit includes one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more memory units.

[0024] A memory unit may be implemented as a volatile data memory, for example a dynamic random access memory, DRAM, or a static random access memory, SRAM, or as a non-volatile data memory, for example a read-only memory, ROM, a programmable read-only memory, PROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory, EPROM, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, EEPROM, a flash memory or flash EEPROM, a ferroelectric random access memory, FRAM, a magnetoresistive random access memory, MRAM, or a phase-change random access memory, PCRAM. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and / or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0026] The drawings show in:

[0027] Fig. 1 a schematic block diagram according to an embodiment of a navigation device; and

[0028] Fig. 2 a schematic flow chart according to embodiment of the method.

[0029] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0031] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0032] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises” or “comprise” does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0033] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0034] Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram according to an embodiment of a motor vehicle 10 comprising at least one navigation device 12. Furthermore, a so-called car infotainment system 14 is shown. The car infotainment system 14 according to the shown embodiment comprises at least the navigation device 12, and CPU 16, in particular usable as an electronic computing device, as well as a memory 18. Furthermore, an internet interface 20 as well as a monitor interface 22 is shown, wherein the monitor interface 22 is in particular connected to a display device 24. The internet interface 20 may generate a connection to the internet, for example to a so-called content server 26. The navigation device 12 according to the shown embodiment may at least comprise a software component 28 as well as a map database 30.

[0035] According to an embodiment a method for presenting a current surrounding information 32 on the display device 24 is provided. At least one building in current surroundings are determined by the navigation device 12, wherein the building comprises at least one surface with a media fagade. An online request about a current media of the media facade is generated by the electronic computing device of the navigation device 12. The current media is received by the electronic computing device and a virtual displaying of the received media as the current surrounding information 32 on the building with the media facade by the display device 24 is provided.

[0036] In particular, the media is received from an online platform, for example from the content server 26, assigned to the determined building. If no current media is available, a default skin is displayed on the building with the media fagade. In particular, just buildings within the current displayed area are potentially determined as buildings with a media fagade. Furthermore, the buildings with the media facade are captured by a multimedia camera of the motor vehicle 10. Furthermore, additional at least the size of the media and / or a play time of the media is received by the electronic computing device.

[0037] In particular, when the navigation begins, as the motor vehicle 10 moves, or when a driver interacts with the navigation device 12, the navigation device 12 in the car infotainment system 14 redraws map objects on the display device 24. In this process, the navigation device 12 represents the media facade through the following steps. The navigation device 12 checks the map data for any buildings within the displayed area on the display device 24 that have a surface with media facade attributes. The navigation device 12 accesses the internet to retrieve information from the media server URL that contains details about the building surface in the map data. The navigation device 12 retrieved the media facade data and its properties information of the media facade data is displayed on the surface of the target building at the current time or in the near future. The navigation device 12 applies the downloaded media facade data onto the building's surface for the duration of the playing time specified in the properties data. If there is no media facade data available for the surface of the target building at the current time or in the near future, the navigation device 12 may apply the default skin data for the surface of the building.

[0038] Fig. 2 shows a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of the invention. In particular Fig. 2 shows in a first step S1 that the method starts. In a second step S2 the navigation device 12 checks the map data for any buildings within the displayed area on the screen that have a surface with media facade attributes. In a third step S3 it is checked, if the building have a surface with a media facade attribute. If not, a fourth step S4 is performed, wherein the navigation device 12 applies a default skin data to the surface of the building. If the building have a surface within the media facade attribute a fifth step S5 is performed, where it is checked if there is an internet address in the map data with downloadable information about the media fagade. If not, the fourth step S4 is performed, and if yes, a sixth step S6 is performed, wherein the navigation device 12 accesses the URL of the media server to check if there is any media facade currently being broadcast on the building. After that, a seventh step S7 is performed, wherein this step checks, if there is a media facade currently being broadcasted on the screen. If not, the fourth step S4 is performed. If yes, an eighth step S8 is performed, wherein the navigation device 12 downloads the media facade data and its properties, such as video size and playing time, from the media server. From the eighth step S8 a ninth step S9 is performed, wherein the navigation device 12 applies the downloaded media facade data onto the building surface for the duration of the playing time specified in the properties data. Coming from the fourth step S4 and / or the ninth step S9 a tenth step S10 is performed, wherein the method ends. signs motor vehicle navigation device car infotainment system CPU memory internet interface monitor interface display device content server software map database surrounding information Steps of the method

Claims

1. A method for presenting a current surrounding information (32) on a display device (24) of a navigation device (12) of a motor vehicle (10), comprising the steps of: - determining a building in the current surroundings by the navigation device (12), wherein the building comprises at least one surface with a media fagade;- generating an online request about a current media of the media fagade by an electronic computing device of the navigation device (12);- receiving the current media by the electronic computing device; and- virtual displaying the received media as the current surrounding information (32) on the building with the media fagade by the display device (24).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe media is received from an online platform assigned to the determined building.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatif no current media is available a default skin is displayed on the building with the media fagade.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatjust buildings within the current displayed area are potentially determined as buildings with a media fagade.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thatthe buildings with the media fagade are captured by a multimedia camera of the motor vehicle (10).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in thatadditionally at least a size of the media and / or a play time of the media is received by the electronic computing device.

7. A computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising the computer program product according to claim 7.

9. A navigation device (12) for a motor vehicle (10) for presenting a current surrounding information (32), comprising at least one display device (24) and one electronic computing device, wherein the navigation device (12) is configured for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.