Audio and navigation system with automatic setting of user-dependent parameters

The invention relates to an audio and / or navigation system of a motor vehicle with a control unit for setting the system parameters by a user.

Audio systems are among the most widely used information and Comfort systems in motor vehicles. They have an operating unit for Setting on different system parameters. These include, for example, the setting of the radio channel, the volume or the Sound. Furthermore, for example, the automatic insertion selectable traffic announcements during running CD or cassette mode be.

Navigation systems are among the most modern information systems in Motor vehicles. After entering a destination, the system calculate a Driving Directions and enter while driving the necessary instructions to the Rider. For dynamic route selection, that is a route selection taking into account the changing traffic conditions, can the navigation systems to be connected to an audio system. hereby Broadcasting can broadcast traffic information via the audio system supplied directly to the navigation system and at diamond determination be considered.

Also, the navigation system includes a control unit. Via the control unit For example, target sites are selected from an address book. Furthermore, the driver's preferred information display can be selected will. For example, the display of map extracts or Illustration of arrows that indicate, for example, a turning maneuver, possible. An audio and a navigation system can also be in a common Unit be present with a single operating unit.

If the vehicle is of different drivers used, they should be various system settings of the audio and / or navigation system prefer. This means that each user has his before departure will undertake personally preferred system settings. This process is for a time-consuming, on the other hand has the setting of the system parameters occur when the audio or navigation system. In many Cases are therefore made with the engine running the settings. This is however not desirable for environmental reasons. Further particular occurs company car has a problem that the address books of the navigation system can be viewed by all users. A personal assignment of a Address book for a user is not possible.

This is where the present invention, which set itself the task has an audio and / or navigation system with simplified operation, particularly when using the vehicle by multiple users, specify.

The object is in a generic audio and / or navigation system of a motor vehicle achieved in that the system comprising a memory element for storing user-related system parameters and Funds is to identify the user interacts with and the memory element and the means for identifying the user leading to further means for selecting and setting the stored, user-related system parameters of the user as the current system parameters contains.

The inventive development of an audio and / or navigation system eliminates the regular, time-consuming, manual entry of System parameters before driving by the user. This is in Vehicles that are regularly used by different people, a achieved significant gain in comfort. Each user of the vehicle must only once his desired system parameters on the setting members of the make audio and / or navigation system and subsequently in a memory element to store. The storage element can be both a be part of the audio and / or navigation system or externally be arranged. If the user has his preferred system parameters again stored in the memory element, so set it back respectively, once identified by the means for identifying the user of this has been. The identification of the user, for example, by Speech recognition done. For this purpose has the audio and / or navigation system with a voice recognition system interact. Of the Driver speaks one or a few words about by the speech recognition system to be identified. If the user through the speech recognition system detected, the information about its identity to the audio and / or Navigation system passed, so that the corresponding system parameters can be selected and adjusted.

The identification of the user, for example, also on the basis of Vehicle key used done. If, for example, a vehicle with a remote-controllable locking system, so is the vehicle key via an infrared or radio link with a receiver in the Vehicle interior in conjunction. Between the receiver and the key Data is exchanged in order to identify an authorized driver.

Therefore, it is readily possible, the exchanged data to the effect to enhance that even between different keys authentic driver can be discriminated. In such a case, the audio and / or Navigation system with the receiver of the remote-controlled locking system in Communicate, so that the information on the key used to the audio and / or navigation system can be passed. In the above already explained manner is then the selection and recruitment of user-related system parameters.

For identifying the user but can also be on the storage elements other vehicle components be used. For example, have especially luxury cars seat memory, in which the setting saved the driver's seat for different users of the vehicle is. If now a specific seat adjustment from the seat memory selected, so you can simultaneously have this information, the driver-specific System parameters of the audio and / or navigation system be selected and adjusted. The system parameters of the audio and / or Navigation system may in particular also in the seat memory be stored.

An inventive method for setting user-related System parameters of an audio and / or navigation system of a motor vehicle is characterized in that the user is identified, depending the identified user system parameters from a memory element are read out and the audio and / or navigation system with the read system parameters is adjusted.

The invention is described with reference to exemplary embodiments and the Drawing explained. Show it:<dl tsize="8"><dt>figure 1</dt><dd>a schematic representation of a system according to the invention, </dd><dt>figure 2</dt><dd>an inventive audio system with user identification by speech recognition,</dd><dt>figure 3</dt><dd>an inventive navigation system.</dd></dl>

According to Figure 1, the audio and / or navigation system 1 is connected to a Storage element 2 and means 3 for identifying the user interacts. In the storage element 2 are for different users A, B, C, ... stored the preferred system parameters. The means 3 for identification the user may be a speech recognition system, a Key recognition system, a Sitzverstellspeicher or other user-related Sensors act. If by the means 3, for example, recognized that the vehicle of the user B key was used, it is this information is transmitted to the audio and / or navigation system. By the audio and / or navigation system are then stored in the storage element 2 stored user-related system parameters for the user B accessed and adjusted. Manual adjustment of the preferred system parameters can be dispensed by the user.

In Figure 2, an inventive audio system 1 is shown that with a Speech recognition system 4 interacts. The audio system 1 includes a microprocessor 5 which is connected to a control unit 6th The control unit 6 includes various setting elements 7 for setting special system parameters of the audio system. This may be, for example, by adjusting the volume of the transmitter, the sound, the Receiving traffic messages, playing a CD or tape and the like. By means of the setting 7 is the User's preferred system parameters and stores them by Operating the memory button 8 in the storage element 2, also with the Microcomputer 5 is connected, from. Then still has the assignment a user identification to the Data effected. To this end, the user speaks a few words from the microphone 9 of the speech recognition system 4 and added to an evaluation unit 10 of the speech recognition system be forwarded. 4 The speech recognition system 4 shares the registered speech patterns a user code and passes them on the microcomputer 5 of the audio system 1. By pressing the Memory key 8 allows the user code previously in storage element 2 stored user-specific system parameters are assigned. In memory element 2 thus a data pair consisting of user code and user-specific system parameters stored. The described Operation must be carried out only once by each user. The aforementioned speech recognition system is beyond the scope of this invention and therefore need not be explained in detail herein.

the user uses the vehicle again, he must first only by Talk one or a few words picked up by the microphone 9 be and evaluated by the evaluation unit 10, identify. Can he User by the speech recognition system a stored code are assigned, then this code by the speech recognition system 4 passed on to the microprocessor. 5 The microprocessor 5 begins dialing the to the user code in the memory element 2 stored user-specific System parameters and sets the audio system accordingly. For this purpose, the microcomputer 5, for example, corresponding signals to Actuators 11 for adjusting the volume of the balance or the sound. Microprocessor 5 user system parameters can also other components not shown in 12 of the audio system output are, for example, for setting a preferred radio station. The audio signal with the user-specific system settings is over an audio amplifier 13 is output to one or more speakers 14th

In Fig. 3 as a further embodiment of a navigation system with the for the invention essential components shown. About an operating unit 6, which is connected to a microprocessor 5, settings can of System parameters of the navigation system are made. For example the desired form of presentation of the information on the display unit be selected 15th Further, the destination can be entered or from a list of possible destinations, the displayed on the display unit 15 are to be selected. The operating unit 6 and the display unit 15 can also be designed as a combined control / display unit. The Navigation system further includes a reader 16, with which on a CD-ROM 20 or similar storage medium stored digitized map data can be read into the microprocessor. 5 Further, the microprocessor 5 to 17 non-illustrated components Positioning of the vehicle by dead reckoning and / or GPS navigation connected. After entering a destination is the Microprocessor 5 because of the 17 sites identified by the components present Location of the vehicle and the map data, the distance to Destination is calculated. About the display unit 15 are driving information output with respect to the route to the driver. The microprocessor 5 can be connected to an audio system, not shown, where the audio system transmits traffic information to the navigation system be taken into account when planning a route. To this extent, is. a known navigation system

According to the invention, the microprocessor 5 is connected to a memory element 2 connected, in the user-specific system settings, such as the desired Information representation or an address book with preferred destinations and an associated user code are stored. to assign the user-specific system information to a user of the vehicle the microprocessor in addition to a vehicle locking system 18 connected, which depends on the used vehicle key 19 a User code sends to the microprocessor. 5 On the basis of the received Codes from the memory element 2 is associated with this code read user-specific system parameters and set.

The storage of these user-specific system settings must in turn, are made by each user only once. The storage the system settings, as with the previously described Audio system occur, whereby the user mapping now of the Locking system transmitted code with the system settings is stored.

In particular, for reasons of cost, the means for identifying the User usually not exclusively with an audio and / or navigation system Collaborate. Just a voice recognition system is particularly substantially for reasons of driving authorization control in his vehicle available. However, this may for setting the user-specific System parameters of the audio and / or navigation system be shared. For the reasons mentioned, therefore, the interaction the audio and / or navigation system with a seat memory in any case in one of the vehicles is already present, particularly preferred.