IVI App Usage Tracking for Vehicle Resource Duplication

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle systems face redundancy and inefficiency in utilizing mobile device applications that duplicate resources provided by onboard systems, lacking a thorough understanding of user practices and resource utilization rates.

Innovation Solution

A method and device to determine the usage rate of mobile applications during a vehicle journey by tracking resource allocation and de-allocation between mobile devices and vehicle infotainment systems, using time counters to calculate utilization rates and transmit data to a remote server for centralized analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If device mirroring applications are used to access vehicle resources, then user flexibility and application availability are improved, but system redundancy and resource duplication occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication availabilityVSAvoidresource duplication
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements usage tracking that monitors and records how mobile applications utilize vehicle resources during journeys. This feedback mechanism collects data on resource allocation patterns, application categories, and usage duration, enabling the system to understand actual user behavior and optimize resource management strategies accordingly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The usage tracking system automatically monitors and records resource allocation without requiring manual user input or intervention. The system self-services by autonomously tracking usage patterns, calculating utilization rates, and generating insights about application usage, reducing the need for manual data collection and analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If mobile device applications are integrated with vehicle resources, then user convenience is improved, but understanding of user practices becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoiduser practice knowledge
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements comprehensive usage tracking that captures detailed information about how users interact with mobile applications and vehicle resources. This feedback includes data on which applications are used, for how long, and with which vehicle resources, providing valuable insights into actual user practices and preferences that can inform future system improvements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The usage tracking system acts as an intermediary between mobile applications and vehicle resources, monitoring and recording the interaction patterns. This intermediary layer collects and analyzes usage data, translating raw interaction information into meaningful insights about user practices while maintaining the seamless integration between mobile devices and vehicle systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If resource allocation tracking is implemented, then usage rate determination is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveusage rate determinationVSAvoidtracking system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the tracking functionality into distinct modular components: resource allocation tracking, usage time recording, application category identification, and utilization rate calculation. Each component handles a specific aspect of usage monitoring, making the overall system more manageable and easier to implement while maintaining precise measurement capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The usage tracking system automatically performs all monitoring and calculation operations without requiring manual intervention. The system self-services by autonomously tracking resource allocation, recording usage timestamps, identifying application categories, and computing utilization rates, reducing the operational complexity despite the enhanced measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4682721A1Method and device for determining a usage rate of a set of applications of an application category during a path performed by a vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
  • EP4682721A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4682721A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4682721A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method and device for determining the usage rate of a set of mobile applications during a journey in a vehicle (10), a mobile device (101) being connected in communication with an infotainment system, referred to as the IVI system, of the vehicle. Specifically, the method comprises incrementing a first time counter at the beginning of the journey, receiving at least one request to allocate a resource from the IVI system from a mobile application within the set of mobile applications to share data between the mobile application and the IVI system, and incrementing a second time counter upon allocation of the resource to the mobile application. The incrementing of the second and first time counters is stopped upon receipt of confirmation of the completion of resource allocation to the mobile application and the end of the journey.The utilization rate is then determined from the first and second time counters.