Wireless Controller Reset for Fleet Vehicle Privacy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rental and fleet vehicles often have user settings left unchanged after use, leading to privacy concerns and reduced quality of service due to the high manual effort required to reset settings like navigation destinations and ergonomic preferences.

Innovation Solution

A resetting device for motor vehicle controllers that wirelessly receives a reset signal and adjusts settings to a prescribed state from a remote computation unit, allowing for individual adaptation without manual intervention, using a vehicle network for transmission via mobile radio or WLAN, and ensuring a standard state with reduced personnel outlay.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual resetting of controller settings is performed by employees, then settings can be reset to a standard state, but the operational effort and time required are very high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestandard state of vehicle settingsVSAvoidtime for resetting settings
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-service resetting of controller settings through a reception unit that receives reset signals and a resetting unit that automatically resets settings without requiring manual employee intervention. The vehicle system itself performs the resetting operation based on received signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of employees physically resetting settings is replaced by an electronic/communication-based system where reset signals are transmitted wirelessly or via vehicle network to automatically trigger the resetting of controller settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If manual resetting of controller settings is performed by employees, then settings can be reset to a standard state, but the personnel outlay and cost are very high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestandard state of vehicle settingsVSAvoidoperational cost of resetting
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-service resetting of controller settings through a reception unit that receives reset signals and a resetting unit that automatically resets settings without requiring manual employee intervention. The vehicle system itself performs the resetting operation based on received signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of employees physically resetting settings is replaced by an electronic/communication-based system where reset signals are transmitted wirelessly or via vehicle network to automatically trigger the resetting of controller settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If settings are reset manually only with high outlay, then data protection considerations can be addressed, but human errors such as omitting to erase destinations may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy data protectionVSAvoidcompleteness of setting reset
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback mechanisms where the reception unit confirms receipt of reset signals and the resetting unit confirms completion of setting resets. This ensures that all intended settings are properly reset and provides verification to prevent incomplete operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of employees physically resetting settings is replaced by an electronic/communication-based system where reset signals are transmitted wirelessly or via vehicle network to automatically trigger the resetting of controller settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple vehicles are managed manually, then individual vehicle settings can be reset, but the time and effort required for centralized management is very high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual vehicle setting controlVSAvoidfleet resetting efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The resetting system is designed with universal functionality that can operate across multiple vehicles. The reception units and resetting units are standardized components that can receive and process reset signals in the same manner across different vehicles, enabling centralized fleet management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of employees physically resetting settings in each vehicle individually is replaced by an electronic/communication-based system where reset signals can be transmitted to multiple vehicles through vehicle networks, enabling simultaneous or sequential resetting across the entire fleet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10683013B2Resetting controller settings in a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.06.16 AUDI AG
  • US10683013B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A resetting device for at least one controller in a motor vehicle includes a receiving unit for receiving a reset signal, and a resetting unit for resetting at least one setting of the controller to a predefined reset setting following the receipt of the reset signal by the receiving unit. The setting of the controller can be modified by the user of the motor vehicle during proper use of the motor vehicle, and the receiving unit is designed for the wire-free reception of the predefined reset setting from a computing unit that is external to the vehicle, in order to increase the quality of service in a motor vehicle.