Vehicle Component Control via Passenger User Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle control systems primarily rely on the driver for multitasking, which can be cumbersome and raise safety concerns due to the complexity of controlling various vehicle components while driving.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allow a passenger to control vehicle components through user equipment by assigning control levels and states, enabling the equipment to control specific components when the levels and states match, thereby extending control beyond the driver's capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the driver controls all vehicle components while driving, then the driver has full control over vehicle operations, but the operational complexity increases and safety decreases due to multitasking demands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the driver's control responsibilities by introducing a passenger as a separate control agent. The passenger can control specific vehicle components (navigation, entertainment, climate control) through a mobile device, while the driver focuses on driving tasks. This division of control functions reduces the driver's multitasking burden and improves overall system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary between the passenger and vehicle components. The mobile device communicates with the vehicle's control systems, allowing the passenger to control various components without directly interacting with the driver or vehicle controls. This intermediary enables safe passenger involvement in vehicle operation while maintaining driver focus.
2Productivity
If the driver controls all vehicle components, then complete control authority is maintained, but the time required for multitasking operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments control tasks between driver and passenger based on task type and complexity. Routine components like navigation, entertainment, and climate control are assigned to passenger control via mobile device, while driving-critical functions remain with the driver. This segmentation enables parallel task execution and reduces overall operation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The passenger uses their own mobile device to control vehicle components, leveraging familiar technology and personal comfort. This self-service approach allows the passenger to independently manage non-critical vehicle functions without requiring driver assistance or complex inter-comms systems.
3Reliability
If passenger control through mobile device is enabled, then driver distraction is reduced and safety improves, but control authority and security management become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a control level parameter system where different users (driver, passenger) are assigned different control levels for various vehicle components. The system automatically manages authorization and access rights based on these parameters, simplifying security management despite multiple control agents. The mobile device communicates control requests with appropriate authentication tokens or identifiers.
Data Source
AI summary
Described embodiments provide a device controlling at least one of components of a vehicle in response to a control command from user equipment. The device may be configured to assign a first control level and a control state to each component of the vehicle, to assign a second control level to user equipment, and to allow the user equipment to control a target component of the vehicle when a first control level of the target component is equivalent to a second control level of the user equipment and a control state of the target component is equivalent to a state of the vehicle.