In-Vehicle App Recommendation System Using Consensus Ratings

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Solution Overview

Problem

In-vehicle infotainment systems face challenges in recommending relevant apps to users due to the overwhelming number of available apps, with existing recommendation engines only considering simple parameters like app category, failing to account for user context and usage trends.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that collect and analyze user/application rating data, including implicit ratings from app usage, to calculate inferred ratings and provide personalized app recommendations using both user-driven and application-driven consensus ratings, combined with external inputs, to synthesize recommendations for users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If simple parameters like app category are used for recommendations, then the recommendation system is easy to implement, but the accuracy and relevance of recommendations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecommendation system complexityVSAvoidrecommendation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms simple categorical parameters into multi-dimensional feature vectors that include usage frequency, recency, duration, and contextual information. This parameter expansion enables the system to capture nuanced user preferences while maintaining computational efficiency through structured data processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds multiple dimensions to the recommendation evaluation by incorporating temporal patterns, usage intensity metrics, and contextual factors alongside traditional category-based filtering. This dimensional expansion allows for more precise user-app matching without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If more comprehensive user context and usage trend analysis is performed, then recommendation accuracy improves, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecommendation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-processes and stores usage data in structured formats that enable rapid retrieval and analysis. By preparing data in advance and maintaining efficient data structures, the system can perform comprehensive analysis without significant real-time computational overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous background processing of usage data that operates independently of recommendation requests. This allows the system to maintain up-to-date user profiles and usage trends without blocking the main recommendation flow, effectively separating data processing from service delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If implicit ratings based on app usage data are collected, then the system can provide more personalized recommendations, but data privacy concerns and user trust issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecommendation personalizationVSAvoiddata privacy risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system derives ratings automatically from observable usage behavior patterns rather than requiring explicit user input or sensitive data collection. This self-service approach uses naturally occurring usage data to infer preferences, eliminating the need for separate data gathering mechanisms that would raise privacy concerns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces usage pattern analysis as an intermediary layer between raw user behavior data and recommendation outputs. This intermediary process transforms detailed usage information into abstracted preference models, filtering out personally identifiable information while preserving recommendation relevance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9430476B2Method and apparatus of user recommendation system for in-vehicle apps
Publication Date: 2016.08.30 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • US9430476B2 patent drawing
  • US9430476B2 patent drawing
  • US9430476B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method and system for recommending applications to users of in-vehicle infotainment systems are disclosed. Application rating data from many road vehicle infotainment system users are collected on a central server, including both explicit ratings and implicit ratings. Implicit ratings may be calculated based on application usage data. The user/application rating data is filtered for relevance, and then analyzed to determine inferred ratings for user/application relationships where no rating exists. The inferred ratings are calculated using both a user-driven consensus rating calculation and an application-driven consensus rating calculation. The inferred ratings, along with optional cyberspace-based external inputs, are used to synthesize application recommendations for users. The synthesized recommendations for application consideration are provided to the appropriate user via downloading from the central server to the infotainment system in the user's vehicle.