Method and device for controlling a display system of a vehicle comprising an odometer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for controlling a display system of a vehicle comprising an odometer. To this end, a first item of graphical content (21) representative of a kilometre counter is displayed in a first zone of a touchscreen (13). Data representing a touch press on the displayed first item of graphical content (21) are received. A second item of graphical content (30) comprising at least one first item of statistical information of the use of the vehicle over a first predetermined time interval is displayed in a second zone of the touchscreen (13), following the reception of the data.

Description

DESCRIPTION Title: Method and device for controlling a vehicle display system comprising an odometer Technical field

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2401096 filed on February 5, 2024, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The invention relates to methods and devices for controlling a display system of a vehicle, in particular but not exclusively a motor vehicle. The invention relates in particular to a method and a device for controlling the display of information relating to the use of a vehicle. The invention also relates to a method and a device for assisting the driving of a vehicle. Technological background

[0003] Some contemporary vehicles have several screens to display information useful to the driver for driving the vehicle as well as comfort information, such as information for interacting with the vehicle's infotainment system, also called IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment) system.

[0004] Among these screens, it is known to embed one or more LCD type screens (from the English "Liquid Crystal Display" or in French "Display à cristals liquide"), for example of the TFT type (from the English "Thin-Film Transistor" or in French "Thin film Transistor"), or OLED type (from the English "Organic Light-Emitting Diode" or in French "Organic electroluminescent diode").

[0005] The integration of such screens makes it possible, for example, to control, via a graphical Human-Machine Interface (HMI) displayed on such screens, the operating status of the systems embedded in the vehicle, for example ADAS systems (from the English "Advanced Driver-Assistance System" or in French "Advanced Driving Assistance System").

[0006] The multiplication of systems embedded in the vehicle and the multiplication of means of command or control of these systems lead to an increase in complexity of the HMI by which a user interacts with the embedded systems to control them, with in particular an increase in icons, displayed messages or command shortcuts, the control and management of which are consequently complicated for a user. The user experience is degraded and the attention of the vehicle driver can be reduced when different messages are displayed on the on-board screen(s).

[0007] Thus, vehicle usage information such as distance traveled obtained from the vehicle's odometer is currently displayed on a screen such as a vehicle's dashboard. This information is limited and accessing this information can be unintuitive. Summary of the present invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is, for example, to improve the user experience with regard to feedback on the use of the vehicle.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is, for example, to facilitate access to information relating to the use of a vehicle.

[0011] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a display system of a vehicle, the vehicle having an odometer, the display system comprising a touch screen, the method being implemented by at least one processor and comprising the following steps: - reception of first data representative of at least one kilometer counter from the odometer; - display control of a first graphic content representative of at least one odometer in a first area of ​​the touch screen based on the first data; - reception of second data representative of a first touch press on the first graphic content; - control of display of a second graphic content comprising at least a first statistical information on use of the vehicle over a first determined time interval following the reception of the second data, the second graphic content being displayed in a second zone of the touch screen.

[0012] The use of a touchscreen on the area of ​​a screen including the display of an odometer to request the display of additional content relating to the use of the vehicle over a given period of time allows a person, for example the driver, to obtain additional information on demand relating to the use of the vehicle. This makes it possible, for example, to monitor the use of the vehicle and to obtain information allowing, for example, the estimation of the condition of the vehicle, for example to anticipate maintenance. All of the content is also displayed on a single screen, which facilitates access to information and minimizes the time spent searching for information. The driver's vigilance is improved, as is the safety of the vehicle and its passengers.

[0013] Centralizing controls on a single screen also eliminates the need for physical buttons to control vehicle operation, reducing vehicle design and manufacturing costs.

[0014] According to one variant, the method further comprises the following steps: - receiving third data representative of a touch scan on a part of the second graphic content; - control of display of a third graphic content in replacement of the second graphic content following the reception of the third data, the third graphic content comprising at least one second statistical information on the use of the vehicle over a second determined time interval, the at least one second statistical information on the use of the vehicle being different from the at least one first statistical information on the use of the vehicle.

[0015] According to another variant, the at least one first statistical information on the use of the vehicle and the at least one second statistical information on the use of the vehicle belong to a set of information comprising: - information representative of a vehicle speed profile as a function of time over a time interval corresponding to the first determined time interval or the second determined time interval; - information representative of an average speed of the vehicle over the time interval; - information representative of the duration of use of the vehicle over the time interval; - information representative of a distance traveled by the vehicle over the time interval; - information representative of a duration of use of the vehicle for each time subdivision of a set of time subdivisions forming the time interval; - information representative of a distance traveled by the vehicle during each time subdivision of the set of time subdivisions; - information representative of a distribution of vehicle use according to at least one vehicle use criterion.

[0016] According to yet another variant, the first graphical content comprises a first diagram representative of a history of speeds of the vehicle over the first determined time interval and a second diagram representative of a histogram of monthly duration of use of the vehicle over the first determined time interval, and the second graphical content comprises a third diagram representative of a distribution of day / night use of the vehicle, a fourth diagram representative of a distribution of summer / winter use of the vehicle and a fifth diagram representative of a distribution of use of the vehicle by type of environment.

[0017] According to a further variant, the method further comprises the following steps: - reception of fourth data representative of a second touch press on the first graphic content; - end of display control of a current graphic content corresponding to the second graphic content or to the third graphic content following the reception of the fourth data.

[0018] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a device for controlling a display system of a vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for implementing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0019] According to one variant, the device corresponds to a mobile communication device connected in wireless communication with the vehicle.

[0020] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automobile type, comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0021] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for executing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

[0022] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and may be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0023] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0024] On the one hand, the recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may include a storage medium, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit type ROM memory, or a magnetic recording medium or a hard disk.

[0025] Furthermore, this recording medium may also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention may in particular be downloaded from a network such as the Internet.

[0026] Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in performing the method in question. Brief description of the figures

[0027] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 6, in which:

[0028] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates a part of the passenger compartment of a vehicle, according to a particular exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] [Fig. 2] schematically illustrates a display device of the vehicle of FIG. 1, according to a first particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] [Fig. 3] schematically illustrates the display device of the vehicle of FIG. 1, according to a second particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] [Fig. 4] schematically illustrates the display device of the vehicle of FIG. 1, according to a third particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] [Fig. 5] illustrates a device configured to control a display system of the vehicle of FIG. 1, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] [Fig. 6] illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling a display system of the vehicle of FIG. 1, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Description of examples of implementation

[0034] A method and device for controlling a vehicle display system will now be described in the following with joint reference to Figures 1 to 6. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description which follows.

[0035] The terms "first(s)", "second(s)" (or "first(s)", "second(s)"), etc. are used in this document by arbitrary convention to identify and distinguish different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below. Such elements may be distinct or correspond to a single element, depending on the embodiment.

[0036] According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention, the control of an on-board display system in a vehicle is for example implemented by one or more computers of the vehicle, for example via one or more processors.

[0037] For this purpose, the display of a first graphical content representative of one or more odometers is controlled so that this first graphical content is displayed in a first zone of a touch screen of the vehicle display system. A odometer records the distance traveled by a vehicle, for example the distance traveled since the vehicle was first put into circulation (also called total odometer), the distance traveled by the vehicle since the last reset of the odometer (for a so-called partial odometer) or the distance traveled by the vehicle since the start of a current journey (partial odometer). The data displayed in the first graphical content is a function of first data obtained or received from the vehicle's odometer.The vehicle odometer is a system configured to measure the distance (e.g., in meters or kilometers) traveled by the vehicle. The odometer. includes for example a calculator determining the distance from data received from sensors associated with one or more wheels of the vehicle, each sensor measuring the number of rotations made by a wheel.

[0038] Second data representative of a touch press on the first graphic content are received from the touch interface, for example when a user makes a touch press on the touch screen at the location where this first graphic content is displayed.

[0039] Following receipt of the second data, the computer controls the display of a second graphic content including statistical information relating to the use of the vehicle over a determined time period in a second area of ​​the touch screen.

[0040] Such a method makes it possible to control, via a voluntary action, the display of a set of statistical information on the use of the vehicle, for example a history of speeds, the monthly or daily distance traveled, the distribution of the use of the vehicle at different periods or seasons of a year, the distribution of the use of the vehicle at different times of the day, the distribution of the use of the vehicle in different types of environment, etc.

[0041] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a part of the passenger compartment of a vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] The vehicle 10 corresponds, for example, to a vehicle with a thermal engine, with an electric motor(s) or even a hybrid vehicle with a thermal engine and one or more electric motors. The vehicle 10 thus corresponds, for example, to a land vehicle, for example a car, a truck, a bus.

[0043] The vehicle 10 advantageously incorporates a display system comprising a screen 13 with a touch interface and a computer configured to control the display of content(s) of a graphical MMI on the touch screen 13. The computer corresponds for example to the computer of the infotainment system, called the IVI computer (from the English “In-Vehicle Infotainment” or in French “Infodivertissement embarké”) of the vehicle 10.

[0044] The touch screen 13 corresponds for example to a screen of the LCD type (from the English “Liquid Crystal Display” or in French “Display à cristals liquide”), for example of the TFT type (from the English “Thin-Film Transistor” or in French “Transistor en film mince”), or OLED type (from the English “Organic Light-Emitting Diode” or in French “Diode électroluminescente biologique”).

[0045] The touch screen 13 is configured to display content intended for the driver and passengers of the vehicle 10. The touch screen 13 is also configured to allow the driver and / or passengers of the vehicle to interact with one or more systems embedded in the vehicle via a human machine interface (HMI) displayed on the touch screen 13. For example, the screen 13 is configured to interact with the IVI system and / or the odometer of the vehicle 10.

[0046] The screen 13 is for example arranged in the dashboard 11, in a space provided behind the steering wheel 14 according to the point of view of a driver of the vehicle 10 seated in the driver's seat 15. Such a screen 13 is also called the instrument panel or dashboard of the vehicle 10.

[0047] According to a particular embodiment, the display system comprises one or more other screens, for example a screen of a so-called head-up display device or system corresponding for example to a transparent or semi-transparent blade arranged in such a way that a driver seated in the seat 15 sees the content displayed or projected on the transparent blade when the driver drives the vehicle 10. The display system further comprises for example a display screen 12 arranged in a central space of the dashboard 11.

[0048] According to a particular embodiment, the vehicle 10 has one or more on-board systems each controlled by one or more computers, in particular an odometer. These computers, with the IVI computer, form for example a multiplexed architecture for the realization of different services useful for the proper functioning of the vehicle and for assisting the driver and / or the passengers of the vehicle in the control of the vehicle 10 via the control of the system(s) embedded in the vehicle 10. The computers communicate and exchange data between them via one or more computer buses, for example a communication bus of the bus type CAN (Controller Area Network), CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (according to ISO 17458), LIN (Local Interconnect Network) or Ethernet (according to ISO / IEC 802-3).

[0049] According to different embodiments, the vehicle 10 also has one or more of the following systems: - a navigation and geolocation system, also called a GNSS system (Geolocation and Navigation by a Satellite System), for example a GPS (Global Positioning System) or Galileo type system, which system is configured to provide the vehicle 10 with data representative of its geographical position at any time, for example in the form of GPS coordinates (latitude and longitude); and / or - a communication system comprising, for example, one or more communication antennas connected to a telematics control unit, known as TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit”), itself connected to one or more computers of the on-board system of the vehicle 10; such a configuration system is configured so that the vehicle 10 communicates with one or more servers of the “cloud” (or “cloud” in French) to obtain for example data on the environment crossed by the vehicle 10, for example meteorological data; and / or - an environmental data measurement system, such a system comprising a computer controlling a set of sensors each configured to measure physical quantities such as meteorological data (temperature, rain, fog, snow, etc.), brightness (to detect whether it is day or night for example), etc.; and / or - a clock to get the date and time at any moment.

[0050] A process for controlling a display system on board the vehicle 10 is advantageously implemented by one or more processors of the display system, for example by one or more processors of one or more computers, for example the computer of the system I VI.

[0051] According to a particular embodiment, the process described below is implemented by a mobile communication device, such as a smartphone or a tablet, connected in communication (for example wirelessly) to the vehicle 10 to obtain the data necessary for the implementation of the process (for example the data from the odometer(s)).

[0052] In a first operation of the process, first data representative of one or more odometers are received from the odometer of the vehicle 10.

[0053] These first data are for example received from the computer controlling the odometer of the vehicle 10 via one or more data buses. These first data are for example received automatically or at the request of the computer in charge of the process.

[0054] The first data are for example representative of a so-called total odometer recording the distance traveled (in km) by the vehicle 10 since it was first put into circulation. The first data providing the total mileage of the vehicle 10 are for example received automatically each time the vehicle 10 is started.

[0055] According to one variant, the first data is representative of one or more partial odometers (also called daily odometers), a partial or daily odometer indicating the distance traveled by the vehicle 10 since the last reset of this partial odometer by a user of the vehicle 10, for example the driver.

[0056] In a second operation of the process, the display of a first graphical content representative of the odometer(s) represented by the first data is controlled in such a way that this first graphical content is displayed on the touch screen 13 in a first zone of the touch screen 13, following the reception of the first data.

[0057] Figure 2 illustrates a result of the display control of the first graphic content 21 on the touch screen 13, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment.

[0058] According to the example of Figure 2, the first graphic content 21 is displayed in a first zone corresponding to a lower part of the touch screen 13, in the middle of the lower part of the touch screen 13 according to the point of view of a person looking at the screen 13 from a front seat of the vehicle 10 for example. Of course, the first zone can correspond to any zone of the screen, for example a lower right or left part or even in the upper part of the touch screen 13.

[0059] The first graphic content 21 displayed includes, for example, the total odometer of the vehicle 10 corresponding to a number of kilometers traveled by the vehicle 10 (this number being equal to 17225 km according to the example of figure 1).

[0060] According to other exemplary embodiments, the first graphic content 21 further comprises one or more of the following information or data: - one or more partial (or daily) counters; and / or - one or more pieces of information relating to a stop-start system of the vehicle 10 (also called STT system (from the English “Stop and Start” or in French “arrêt et démarrage”) such as the duration of stopping of the engine of the vehicle 10 controlled by the STT system on the current route of the vehicle 10; and / or - the outside temperature; and / or - the current time.

[0061] A display control of a graphic content, such as the first graphic content 21, or of any graphic object (text, pictogram, icon, etc.) comprises a rendering of the graphic content or of the graphic object, such a rendering corresponding to a set of operations carried out by one or more processors on the pixels of one or more images of the graphic content to be displayed on the screen 13. For example, the rendering consists of associating with a set of pixels of an image pixel data (for example color data expressed in an RGB type space (from the English "Red, Green, Blue" or in French "rouge, vert, bleu")) associated with each graphic object.

[0062] The display control of the first graphic content 21 thus comprises the transmission of control signals to the touch screen 13 to modify the values ​​associated with the pixels of the touch screen 13 at the location intended to display the first graphic content 21, for example the values ​​of the pixels used for displaying the values ​​taken by the odometer(s) included in the first graphic content 21.

[0063] Other graphical content (not illustrated in Figure 1) is for example displayed simultaneously with the first graphical content, for example graphical content representing a rev counter, graphical content representing a speedometer, graphical content associated with an ADAS system (from the English “Advanced Driver-Assistance System” or in French “Advanced Driving Assistance System”) such as an adaptive cruise control, a lane departure warning system or a lane keeping system.

[0064] In a third operation, second data representative of a first touch press 210 on the first graphic content 21 are received, following a touch press 210 of a user (for example the driver of the vehicle 10) on the first graphic content 21.

[0065] A touch press on the first graphic content 21 sends information to the IVI computer so that the latter implements one or more functions associated with the command corresponding to the touch press.

[0066] The second data representative of the touch press are for example received via one or more data buses connecting the touch interface of the screen (or a computer controlling such a touch interface where applicable) and the IVI computer.

[0067] The first touch press 210 corresponds for example to a so-called short or brief touch press, that is to say a touch press whose duration of press on the first graphic content 21 is less than a threshold duration (for example equal to 500 or 1000 ms).

[0068] In a fourth operation of the process, the IVI computer controls the display of a second graphic content comprising one or more first statistical information on the use of the vehicle 10 over a first determined time interval. The control of display of the graphic content is for example triggered by the reception of the second data. The second graphic content is displayed in a second zone of the touch screen 13 different from the first zone in which the first graphic content 21 is displayed.

[0069] The first time interval corresponds for example to a parameter of the system whose value is adjustable by a user via an ad hoc HMI (Human-Machine Interface). The duration of the first time interval is for example equal to 6, 12, 24 months, that is to say that the first time interval corresponds to the 6, 12 or 24 months elapsed before the instant corresponding to the first touch press 210. According to another example, the duration corresponds to the time elapsed since the first entry into circulation of the vehicle 10.

[0070] The fourth operation includes, for example, the transmission of a request by the IVI calculator to one or more calculators controlling one or more systems to obtain the first statistical information(s) enabling the construction or generation of the second graphic content.

[0071] Figure 3 illustrates the result of the display of a second graphic content 30 according to a particular exemplary embodiment.

[0072] According to a particular example, the second graphic content 30 is displayed in a window occupying a part of the display area of ​​the screen 13 and corresponding to the second area, this window corresponding for example to a contextual window, also called an intrusive or pop-up window (from the English “pop-up window”). This window is for example displayed in a second area located above the first area, this second graphic content 30 replacing (or superimposing) the graphic content previously displayed on the touch screen 13, that is to say before the first touch press 210.

[0073] The second graphic content 30 illustrated in Figure 3 includes: - a first diagram 301 representative of a history of the speeds of the vehicle 10 over the first determined time interval, that is to say a profile representative of the speeds of the vehicle 10 as a function of time; and - a second diagram 302 representative of a histogram of duration of use (by example expressed in hours) monthly of vehicle 10 for each month included in the first determined time interval.

[0074] According to an alternative embodiment, other statistical information is displayed with the first diagram 301 and the diagram 302. For example, the average speed of the vehicle 10 over the first time interval is displayed or represented on the first diagram 301. A text box is further for example displayed with the second diagram 302, for example under the histogram, to indicate the percentage of the time during which the vehicle 10 was stationary, parked or unused (engine off) over the first time interval.

[0075] According to other exemplary embodiments, the second graphical content 30 comprises other statistical information, in addition to that displayed via the first diagram 301 and / or the second diagram 302, or instead of the first and second diagrams.

[0076] For example, the first statistical information on vehicle use corresponds to one or more of the following information, in all possible combinations: - information representative of a vehicle speed profile as a function of time over a time interval corresponding to the first determined time interval; and / or - information representative of an average speed of the vehicle over the time interval; and / or - information representative of a duration of use of the vehicle over the time interval and / or information representative of a duration of non-use of the vehicle 10 over the time interval; and / or - information representative of a distance traveled by the vehicle 10 over the time interval; and / or - information representative of a duration of use of the vehicle 10 for each time subdivision (corresponding to a day, a month, a semester, a year) of a set of time subdivisions forming the time interval; - information representative of a distance traveled by the vehicle 10 during each time subdivision of the set of time subdivisions; - information representative of a distribution of vehicle use according to at least one vehicle use criterion, a use criterion corresponding for example to the season (for example summer and winter), to the time of day (for example day and night), to the type of environment crossed by the vehicle 10 (for example road, motorway, town, countryside, etc.).

[0077] The first statistical information represented in the second graphic content 30 corresponds for example to parameters adjustable via an ad hoc HMI, as well as the type of representation used.

[0078] In an additional operation of the process, according to a particular embodiment of the process, third data representative of a touch scan 310 on a part of the second graphical content 30 are received following the execution of a touch scan at the display location of the second graphical content 30 on the screen 13 by a user, for example the driver, a passenger or a manager of the vehicle 10.

[0079] A touch scan corresponds to a continuous and prolonged touch press of one (or more) fingers on a part of the screen 13, the continuous and prolonged touch press forming a line of a segment (from 1 to several centimeters for example), the segment being for example horizontal (as represented by the arrow 310 in figure 3), or even vertical or oblique.

[0080] Following receipt of the third data, the display of a third graphic content is controlled such that this third graphic content is displayed in the second zone, replacing the second graphic content 30.

[0081] The third graphic content comprises one or more second statistical information items of use of the vehicle 10 over a second determined time interval. The one or more second statistical information items of use of the vehicle 10 are different from the one or more first statistical information items of use of the vehicle 10 represented in the second graphic content 30.

[0082] The second time interval is for example identical to the first time interval. Alternatively, the second time interval is different from the first Y1 time interval, for example of different duration. The second time interval corresponds for example to an adjustable parameter of the system.

[0083] The second statistical information on the use of the vehicle 10 corresponds to one or more of the following information, in all possible combinations: - information representative of a vehicle speed profile as a function of time over a time interval corresponding to the second determined time interval; and / or - information representative of an average speed of the vehicle over the time interval; and / or - information representative of a duration of use of the vehicle over the time interval and / or information representative of a duration of non-use of the vehicle 10 over the time interval; and / or - information representative of a distance traveled by the vehicle 10 over the time interval; and / or - information representative of a duration of use of the vehicle 10 for each time subdivision (corresponding to a day, a month, a semester, a year) of a set of time subdivisions forming the time interval; - information representative of a distance traveled by the vehicle 10 during each time subdivision of the set of time subdivisions; - information representative of a distribution of vehicle use according to at least one vehicle use criterion, a use criterion corresponding for example to the season (for example summer and winter), to the time of day (for example day and night), to the type of environment crossed by the vehicle 10 (for example road, motorway, town, countryside, etc.).

[0084] Figure 4 illustrates the result of the display of a third graphic content 40 according to a particular exemplary embodiment.

[0085] According to the particular example of Figure 4, the third graphic content 40 comprises: - a third diagram 401 representing a day / night usage distribution of the vehicle 10, i.e. a graphical object representing the percentage of use of the vehicle when it is day and the percentage of use of the vehicle 10 when it is night over a period of time corresponding to the second time interval; - a fourth diagram 402 representative of a summer / winter usage distribution of the vehicle 10, i.e. a graphical object representing the percentage of usage of the vehicle in summer (including the spring and summer months) and the percentage of usage of the vehicle 10 in winter (including the autumn and winter months) over the time period corresponding to the second time interval; and - a fifth diagram 403 representing a distribution of vehicle use by type of environment, for example the distribution of vehicle use for each environment in a list of determined environments (for example road, motorway or road, motorway, town, countryside), i.e. a graphic object representing the percentage of use of the vehicle 10 for each environment.

[0086] Each graphic object corresponds, for example, to a circular graph object (also called a pie chart or pie chart), a column graph object, a bar chart object, or any graphic object known to represent statistical information in percentages.

[0087] Different colors are for example associated with each sector representing a particular use, a legend of the colors with their meaning being for example displayed under each diagram 401, 402, 403.

[0088] The second statistical information represented in the third graphic content 40 corresponds for example to parameters adjustable via an ad hoc HMI, as well as the type of representation used.

[0089] The second statistical information (and / or the first statistical information) is for example determined from data obtained from one or more on-board systems of the vehicle 10, such as the navigation system (for example to determine in what type of environment the vehicle 10 is moving), the brightness detection system (for example to determine day and night), the clock (to determine the season), the communication system or the environmental monitoring system to obtain meteorological data, etc.

[0090] According to a particular embodiment, the reception of fourth data representative of a second touch press on the first graphic content 21 triggers the end of display control of the current graphic content then displayed in the second zone during the second touch press and corresponding to the second graphic content 30 or to the third graphic content 40.

[0091] Thus, when the second touch press on the first graphic content 21 is made while the second graphic content 30 is displayed on the screen 13, then the computer in charge of the process controls the end of the display of the second graphic content 30.

[0092] When the second touch press 410 on the first graphic content 21 is made while the third graphic content 40 is displayed on the screen 13, then the computer in charge of the process controls the end of the display of the third graphic content 40.

[0093] The graphic content displayed on the screen 13 in replacement of the second graphic content 30 or the third graphic content 40 then corresponds to the graphic content displayed before the time corresponding to the first touch press 210.

[0094] The second touch press 410 corresponds for example to a so-called short or brief touch press, that is to say a touch press of duration less than the threshold duration (for example equal to 500 or 1000 ms) described previously.

[0095] The display of such statistical information on the use of the vehicle 10 by touching on a graphic content or object obtained at least in part from the odometer of the vehicle 10 provides qualitative data useful to the owner or manager of the vehicle 10, or even to a purchaser of the vehicle 10, to know how the vehicle 10 was used over the time interval considered.

[0096] According to a particular embodiment, the statistical information obtained is provided as input to a diagnostic system to automatically predict one or more maintenance operations of the vehicle 10.

[0097] Figure 5 schematically illustrates a device 5 configured for controlling a display system of a vehicle, for example the vehicle 10, according to examples of particular and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention. The device 5 corresponds for example to a device on board the vehicle 10, for example a computer.

[0098] According to one variant, the device 5 corresponds to a mobile communication device of the smartphone or tablet type.

[0099] The device 5 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations described with regard to figures 1 to 4 and / or the steps of the method described with regard to figure 6. Examples of such a device 5 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as an on-board computer of a vehicle, an electronic calculator such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop. The elements of the device 5, individually or in combination, can be integrated in a single integrated circuit, in several integrated circuits, and / or in discrete components. The device 5 can be produced in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0100] The device 5 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 51 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the method and / or for executing the instructions of the software(s) embedded in the device 5. The processor 51 may include integrated memory, an input / output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 5 further comprises at least one memory 52 corresponding for example to a volatile and / or non-volatile memory and / or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

[0101] The computer code of the embedded software(s) including the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored in the memory 52.

[0102] According to various particular and non-limiting embodiments, the device 5 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and / or with communication devices, for example a TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Telematic Control Unit”), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0103] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 5 comprises a block 54 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of the block 54 comprise one or more of the following interfaces: - RF radio frequency interface, for example Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or Bluetooth® type (according to IEEE 802.15.1), in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, or Sigfox type using UBN (Ultra Narrow Band) radio technology, or LoRa in the 868 MHz frequency band, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced; - USB interface (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or “Universal Serial Bus” in French); - HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface” or “High Definition Multimedia Interface” in French); - LIN interface (from the English “Local Interconnect Network”).

[0104] According to another particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 5 comprises a communication interface 54 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system) via a communication channel 540. The communication interface 54 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and / or data via the communication channel 540. The communication interface 54 corresponds for example to a wired network of the CAN (Controller Area Network) type, CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (standardized by the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (standardized by the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0105] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 5 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a screen. display 550, touch-sensitive or not, one or more speakers 560 and / or other peripherals 570 (projection system) via output interfaces 55, 56 and 57 respectively. According to a variant, one or other of the external devices is integrated into the device 5.

[0106] Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling a display system on board a vehicle, for example the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method is for example implemented by a device on board the vehicle 10 or by the device 5 of Figure 5, in particular by one or more processors of such a device 5.

[0107] In a first step 61, first data representative of at least one odometer are received from the vehicle's odometer.

[0108] In a second step 62, the display of a first graphic content representative of the at least one odometer is controlled to display this first graphic content in a first zone of the touch screen according to the first data.

[0109] In a third step 63, second data representative of a touch press on the first graphic content are received.

[0110] In a fourth step 64, the display of a second graphic content comprising at least a first statistical information item on the use of the vehicle over a first determined time interval is controlled so that the second graphic content is displayed in a second zone of the touch screen different from the first zone, following the reception of the second data.

[0111] According to a variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to one of figures 1 to 4 apply to the steps of the method of figure 6.

[0112] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above but extends to a method for displaying graphic contents representative of statistical information on the use of a vehicle which would include secondary steps without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for the implementation of such a method.

[0113] The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous land-based motor vehicle, comprising the device 5 of FIG. 5 or a display system comprising the device 5 of FIG. 5 connected in communication to a touch screen 13.

[0114] The present invention also relates to a mobile communication device and a system comprising the mobile communication system and the vehicle connected in wired or wireless communication to the mobile communication device.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Method for controlling a display system of a vehicle (10), said vehicle (10) having an odometer, said display system comprising a touch screen (13), said method being implemented by at least one processor and comprising the following steps: - reception (61) of first data representative of at least one odometer from said odometer; - control (62) of display of a first graphic content (21) representative of said at least one odometer in a first zone of said touch screen (13) as a function of said first data; - reception (63) of second data representative of a first tactile press (210) on said first graphic content (21); - control (64) of display of a second graphic content (30) comprising at least a first statistical information of use of said vehicle (10) over a first determined time interval following the reception (63) of said second data, said second graphic content (30) being displayed in a second zone of said touch screen (13).

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the following steps: - receiving third data representative of a touch scan (310) on a part of said second graphic content (30); - control of display of a third graphic content (40) in replacement of said second graphic content (30) following the reception of said third data, said third graphic content (40) comprising at least one second statistical information on the use of said vehicle (10) over a second determined time interval, said at least one second statistical information on the use of the vehicle (10) being different from said at least one first statistical information on the use of the vehicle (10).

3. Method according to claim 2, for which said at least one first statistical information on the use of the vehicle (10) and said at least one second statistical information on vehicle use (10) belongs to a set of information comprising: - information representative of a speed profile of the vehicle (10) as a function of time over a time interval corresponding to said first determined time interval or to said second determined time interval; - information representative of an average speed of the vehicle (10) over said time interval; - information representative of a duration of use of said vehicle (10) over said time interval; - information representative of a distance traveled by said vehicle (10) over said time interval; - information representative of a duration of use of said vehicle (10) for each time subdivision of a set of time subdivisions forming said time interval; - information representative of a distance traveled by said vehicle (10) during each time subdivision of said set of time subdivisions; - information representative of a distribution of use of the vehicle (10) according to at least one criterion of use of the vehicle (10).

4. Method according to claim 3, for which said at least one usage criterion belongs to a set of criteria comprising: - a type of environment traveled by said vehicle (10); - a season or period of the year; - one moment of vehicle use (10) in a day.

5. Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, for which said first graphical content (30) comprises a first diagram (301) representative of a speed history of the vehicle over said first determined time interval and a second diagram (302) representative of a histogram of monthly usage duration of the vehicle (10) over said first determined time interval, and said second graphical content comprises a third diagram (401) representative of a day / night usage distribution of the vehicle (10), a fourth diagram (402) representative of a summer / winter usage distribution of the vehicle (10) and a fifth diagram (403) representing a distribution of vehicle use (10) by type of environment.

6. Method according to one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising the following steps: - receiving fourth data representative of a second tactile press (410) on said first graphic content (21); - control of the end of display of a current graphic content corresponding to said second graphic content (30) or to said third graphic content (40) following the reception of said fourth data.

7. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, when these instructions are executed by a processor.

8. Device (5) for controlling a vehicle display system, said device (5) comprising a memory (52) associated with at least one processor (51) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. Device according to claim 8, wherein said device (5) corresponds to a mobile communication device connected in wireless communication with the vehicle (10).

10. Vehicle (10) comprising the device (5) according to claim 8.

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