Vehicle Digital Assistant Mode Switching With Context-Sensitive Prompts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of digital assistants in vehicles often struggle to understand and utilize the available functions due to lack of information on how to operate them, leading to inefficient interaction and limited functionality.
Innovation Solution
A method for a digital assistant in vehicles that changes operating modes based on user input and vehicle-specific context information, providing context-sensitive prompts and outputs through various channels to facilitate efficient learning and interaction with vehicle functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the digital assistant provides comprehensive vehicle function information to users, then user understanding and utilization of vehicle functions improves, but system complexity and information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments vehicle function information into different categories and provides them through structured operator prompts. The digital assistant divides complex vehicle functions into manageable information units, presenting them systematically to users through multiple output channels, thereby reducing the cognitive load while maintaining comprehensive information delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces multiple output channels (visual, auditory, haptic) to deliver information, transforming the traditional single-channel information delivery into a multi-dimensional communication system. This allows comprehensive vehicle function information to be conveyed through different sensory modalities, improving user understanding without proportionally increasing processing complexity.
2Productivity
If the digital assistant adapts to different user contexts and provides personalized information, then interaction efficiency improves, but computational requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the digital assistant monitors user responses and contextual information, then adapts subsequent information delivery accordingly. The system uses feedback from user interactions with vehicle functions to refine future operator prompts, improving interaction efficiency through iterative learning without requiring complex artificial intelligence models.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters such as information presentation style, output channel selection, and prompt timing based on detected user context. By dynamically adjusting these parameters rather than redesigning the entire system architecture, the patent achieves personalized adaptation while controlling system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the digital assistant provides detailed operator prompts and guidance messages, then user learning of vehicle functions improves, but information overload and user distraction may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent delivers operator prompts and guidance messages in periodic, spaced intervals rather than continuously. The digital assistant timing of information delivery to allow processing time between messages, preventing information overload while maintaining effective user learning of vehicle functions through rhythmic, manageable information chunks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides partial information in initial operator prompts, offering just enough guidance for immediate user action, then supplementing with additional details as needed. This approach avoids overwhelming users with complete information upfront while still enabling effective learning through progressive disclosure of vehicle function details.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a digital assistant of a vehicle includes receiving a command to change an operating mode of the digital assistant from a first mode to a second mode using the digital assistant. The method further includes changing the operating mode in response to the received command, and identifying first, vehicle-specific context information for the second mode. The method also includes providing a message having an operator prompt to a user depending on the first, vehicle-specific context information identified by the digital assistant, and receiving user input in response to the operator prompt. The method also includes executing an operation corresponding to the user input at least in part using the digital assistant depending on the first, vehicle-specific context information in the second operating mode. A second message is provided to the user depending on the first user input and the first, vehicle-specific context information.