Vehicle Multimedia Menu Navigation with Last Accessed Memory
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle multimedia systems lack an efficient method for users to navigate and access previously selected menu items or functions without repetitive navigation through the menu hierarchy, especially in situations where user interaction is limited due to driving conditions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle multimedia system with a memory and control unit that stores and retrieves information about the last accessed menu or menu item, allowing users to directly return to the last accessed menu or perform assigned functions with minimal user interaction, using a hierarchically structured menu system and operating elements like switches and programmable keys.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users navigate through the menu hierarchy to access menu items, then they can reach desired functions, but it requires repetitive navigation and increases user interaction time
Solution Approach 1:
The system stores information about the last accessed menu or menu item in a memory device before the user needs to access it again. This preliminary storage action allows the user to quickly retrieve and access the previously accessed menu without repeating the navigation steps, thus reducing the time required while maintaining ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If the menu system stores information about last accessed menus, then user convenience is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A memory device is introduced as an intermediary component between the control unit and the display system. This memory device stores the information about the last accessed menu or menu item, acting as a mediator that enables quick retrieval without adding significant complexity to the overall system architecture. The memory device handles the storage and retrieval operations, keeping the control unit's complexity manageable while still providing enhanced user convenience.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users must navigate through multiple menu levels, then comprehensive function access is achieved, but user interaction steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a copy of the navigation path information (which menu levels and items were previously accessed) and stores it in the memory device. When the user wants to access a function, they can retrieve this copied navigation information and jump directly to the desired menu item without physically navigating through each intermediate menu level, thus reducing the number of interaction steps while maintaining the comprehensive function access capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle multimedia system includes a display that displays a hierarchically structured menu. The hierarchically structured menu may have a main menu, a plurality of submenus, and menu items. The multimedia system provides a memory for storing information identifying a menu or menu item, and a memory control unit for writing information related to a menu item upon a user's selection of the menu by an operating element or by automatic return to a main menu, and displaying the information as selectable menu items identified by the information.