Vehicle Infotainment Selection Logic for Internal-External Voice Commands

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle infotainment systems face difficulties in effectively selecting between internal and external functionalities when receiving voice commands due to overlapping capabilities with external devices, leading to user confusion.

Innovation Solution

A system selection process that intercepts verbal commands and routes them to the appropriate system (infotainment or external device) using predefined preferences, learned behaviors, active sessions, and user inquiries to ensure accurate functionality execution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the infotainment system interfaces with external systems to provide expanded functionality, then the system's versatility is improved, but the difficulty of selecting between overlapping functionalities increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidselection difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a selection system that acts as an intermediary between the user and multiple systems (infotainment and external devices). This mediator receives user input, determines which system should handle the request, and routes the command accordingly, thereby simplifying the user's interaction despite the complexity of multiple overlapping functionalities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the control architecture by separating the selection function from the execution function. The selection system independently determines which system should handle a given command, while the actual functionality execution remains with the respective systems. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing clear selection logic without requiring users to manage the complexity of system overlaps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the voice interface supports multiple system functionalities, then the system's versatility is improved, but the precision of command routing deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommand handlingVSAvoidcommand routing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The selection system incorporates feedback mechanisms to determine which system should handle a given command. By evaluating system capabilities, current states, and command requirements, the selection system makes accurate routing decisions that improve command routing precision while maintaining support for multiple functionalities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the system provides comprehensive functionality selection, then the ease of operation is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface usabilityVSAvoidsystem architecture
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the selection logic from the individual systems and places it in a separate, dedicated selection system. This extraction simplifies the overall architecture by centralizing the complexity of decision-making in one component, while the individual systems remain focused on their core functionalities, thereby improving ease of operation without unnecessarily complicating each system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3659138B1Selection system and method
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 CERENCE OPERATING CO
  • EP3659138B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3659138B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving a verbal command, from a user, on a vehicle infotainment system, wherein the vehicle infotainment system is configured to interface with an external system. A preferred system is identified for executing the verbal command. The verbal command is routed to the preferred system, wherein the preferred system is selected from the vehicle infotainment system and the external system.