Vehicle Privacy Mode for Hands-Free Call Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle multimedia systems do not effectively protect a driver's privacy during hands-free calls when a passenger is present, as call information and audio can be exposed to the passenger.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system with a touchscreen, passenger sensing unit, and communication unit that activates a privacy mode, limiting audio function and call information display when a passenger is detected, allowing the driver to control call acceptance, declining, and ending while maintaining communication with the mobile terminal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hands-free service is provided via communication network with mobile terminal, then driver can make telephone calls without manual operation, but telephone conversation contents are exposed to passenger
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between normal mode and privacy mode based on passenger presence detection. When a passenger is detected, the system automatically activates privacy mode which blocks audio output to speakers and limits display information, while maintaining hands-free call functionality. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by adjusting system behavior according to environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different quality levels to different output channels based on privacy requirements. In privacy mode, the audio output to speakers is blocked or limited while maintaining communication functionality, and display information is selectively restricted (showing only call request reception message without caller identification). This local differentiation allows hands-free operation to continue while protecting privacy in specific areas.
2Ease of operation
If audio function is provided through vehicle speakers during hands-free call, then driver can converse without holding mobile terminal, but audio content is accessible to passenger
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes the audio output function from the vehicle speaker system when privacy mode is activated. By blocking the audio path to speakers while maintaining the communication connection, the system separates the hands-free calling capability from the public audio broadcast, allowing the driver to continue calling privately.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an audio path blocking mechanism as an intermediary between the communication unit and the speaker system. This intermediary selectively prevents audio signals from reaching the speakers when privacy mode is active, while still allowing the communication function to operate through the mobile terminal connection.
3Ease of operation
If full call information is displayed on touchscreen, then driver can easily identify caller, but passenger can also see call information
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different display quality levels to different information elements based on privacy requirements. In privacy mode, the display selectively shows only the call request reception message while hiding or limiting the display of caller identification information. This local differentiation protects sensitive information while maintaining essential call functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a touchscreen configured to receive a touch input of a driver and display image information corresponding to the touch input, a passenger sensing unit configured to sense whether the passenger is present in the vehicle, a communication unit configured to communicate with a mobile terminal of the driver, and a controller configured to display a call request reception message and identification information of a third party when a call request is received from the third party via the mobile terminal and to provide an audio function of a hands-free service. When the passenger is sensed and the call request of the third party is received in a privacy mode, the controller displays the call request reception message and limits displaying of the identification information of the third party and the audio function.