FR2726382A1 - Information system for mounting on=board vehicle e.g. for navigation - Google Patents

Abstract

The system includes a computer module (120,130) which is installed in the vehicle and a portable module (200) which serves as an interface and carries user-defined data in its memory. A communication module (300) couples the portable module to the module fixed to the computer. The portable module has a keyboard for entry of alphanumeric data and a display which shows entered data and allow information from the fixed computer to be displayed. The fixed and portable modules communicate through a suitable coupling, which may be a wire link, an optical link or a radio-telephone link. The portable module is preferably a conventional personal organiser.

Description

 The present invention relates to the field of on-board information systems for a motor vehicle, that is to say the field of systems designed to deliver information to the driver and / or to a passenger of a motor vehicle.

 The present invention applies in particular to on-board information systems comprising a radio telephone and / or a navigation system.

 Many navigation systems concluded to be embarked on vehicle have already been proposed. In these known navigation systems, the user must enter the coordinates of the place where he wishes to go. To this end, the navigation systems hitherto proposed generally include a computer-type keyboard for entering these coordinates. Such keyboards can be the subject of various configurations. They can have one key per code, or, to save the keys, one key for several codes, as well as selection keys. Anyway, because of the number of codes required, these keyboards provided on navigation systems, prove to be complex and not very ergonomic for a driver.

Another solution to allow the entry, in navigation systems, of the coordinates of the desired destination, consists of combining a screen display and the choice of code. By a scroll wheel or other equivalent means, the user can browse a list of available codes which is displayed on the screen. When the desired code is reached,
The user can select it by pressing a key, or on a double function wheel. However, this solution is slower than the previous keyboard-based one.

 In conclusion, although having already rendered great services, the navigation systems hitherto offered are not entirely satisfactory, in particular as regards the phase of entering navigation coordinates. In particular, in the case of the use of a computer type keyboard, the mechanical integration of this element, in the dashboard of the vehicle, is difficult and unattractive. In addition, in the case of a click wheel or an equivalent means, it is ergonomics which poses the main problem. It is indeed tedious to enter an address in this way and not very compatible with driving safety.

 One of the attractions of the radio telephone is to enter the number of correspondents after their name. Indeed, when you want to call a correspondent, it is much more pleasant to select his name than to remember in which memory box, it has been stored.

However, to provide this typing convenience, it is necessary to have on the radio telephone, in addition to the usual ten digits, the letters of the alphabet.

 For this, it is common, on current radio telephones, to use a telephone keypad by overloading each key with several letters, for example three letters for each key. These letters can be selected by function keys or by scrolling on the display of the radio telephone the possible choices, and by stopping at the correct letter. It is also possible to use an external keyboard for input.

 For the same reasons as indicated above with regard to navigation systems, the informative type keyboard is difficult to integrate into radio telephone systems. In addition, the use of the telephone keypad is tedious and not very user-friendly.

 The present invention now aims to improve the known on-board information systems.

 A particular object of the invention is in particular to simplify the data entry process.

 These aims are achieved according to the invention thanks to an on-board information system for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: - at least one information module on board the vehicle, capable of managing and storing data and providing information based on these data to a user, - at least one portable module serving as an organizer, comprising data storage means, - at least one of the modules comprising data entry means, and - means capable of defining a connection temporary communication between the on-board information module and the portable organizer module, to transfer data from one of the modules to the other.

 According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the data entry means are placed on the portable module.

 According to other advantageous features of the invention, the on-board information module consists of a radio telephone and / or a navigation system.

 According to other advantageous features of the invention, the connection means are provided for transferring data from the portable module to an on-board module.

 According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the connection means are suitable for transferring data from an on-board module to a portable module.

 The present invention also relates to the on-board information modules on vehicles themselves, as well as the portable modules serving as an organizer in themselves.

 Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, and with reference to the appended drawings given by way of nonlimiting example and in which: - Figure 1 represents a schematic view , in the form of functional blocks, of an on-board information system according to the present invention, - Figures 2, 3, 4 and 6 represent schematic views of an interface module belonging to the on-board information system according to the present invention , and more precisely illustrate different configurations of screens integrated in this interface, - while FIG. 5 represents a schematic view of an organizer module according to the invention.

 We will first describe the general structure of the on-board information system according to the present invention with reference to Figure 1 attached.

 This information system 1 comprises means 100 on board the vehicle, a portable organizer module 200 and means 300 defining a temporary removable communication link between the on-board means 100 and the organizer 200.

 The on-board means 100 themselves comprise an interface module 110 capable of cooperating with the connection means 300, at least one on-board information module, such as a radio telephone 120 and a navigation system 130, and means 140 communication between the interface 110 and each on-board information module 120, 130.

 The communication means 140 can be formed by different means, such as for example an electromagnetic link, in particular an infrared link. However, preferably, the communication means 140 are formed of a multiplexed wired network connecting the interface module 110 to each on-board information module 120, 130.

 This system 1 according to the present invention is adapted to facilitate the entry of the agenda of the radio telephone 120 and the destination address on the navigation system 130, as well as the loading of the route, using portable organizer 200.

 We will now specify the basic characteristics of each of the subsets of the system according to the invention.

 The radio telephone 120 can be formed from any conventional structure per se of a radio telephone having a telephone directory.

In addition, the radio telephone 120 is adapted to be connected to the communication means 140 preferably formed, as indicated above of a multiplexed wired network.

 The software integrated into the radio telephone 120 must be adapted to allow updating of the directory as well as communication with the multiplex network 140.

 The navigation system 130 can also be formed from any conventional structure per se. The internal structure of the navigation system 130 will therefore not be described in detail below, in a manner comparable to radio telephones 120.

 It will be recalled, however, that the navigation system 130 is adapted to receive the coordinates of the point of departure and arrival desired by the user, coming from the multiplex network 140, and to provide the user, on this basis, with information navigation.

 Preferably, according to the invention, the navigation system 130 is also suitable for sending the route over the network 140, in the direction of the organizer 200, as will be explained below.

 The multiplexed network 140 is adapted to connect the various elements of the on-board information system 100, that is to say the on-board modules 120, 130 and the interface module 110. Preferably, the network 140 respects the constraints of the on-board data buses on the vehicle.

 The interface module 110 is adapted to facilitate user intervention and control over the entire system by this user.

 Essentially, the interface module 110 preferably comprises a display 112 and multifunction keys 114.

 The display 112 is preferably formed of a liquid crystal screen, making it possible to display text and graphics.

 The configurable keys 114 are used to control the various functions of the interface module 140.

 In addition, the interface module 110 comprises a memory, preferably a RAM memory, capable of storing the data in transit, and software managing the user interface and the links.

 Finally, the interface module 110 has means of connection with the organizer 200 and means of connection with the multiplex network 140. Preferably, the means of connection with the organizer 200 are temporary removable means, while the means of connection with the network 140 are permanent means.

 The link 300 defined between the interface module 110 and the organizer 200 can be the subject of numerous variants. In particular, this link can be wired or optical, in particular infrared, or even radio, sound or other equivalent methods. It is preferably a bidirectional link.

 If necessary, an evolution of the system may consist in connecting the organizer 200 directly to the multiplexed network 140, or via a gateway. This gateway uses the protocol of the multiplex network 140 in its impulse version towards the organizer 200 (optical link) and in its version on wired bus with the other elements 120, 130 of the system. This allows the use of a single protocol controller.

 The organizer 200 provides inter alia the functions of telephone directory and notepad. It preferably comprises a computer type keyboard 202, specific function keys 204 and a display screen 206, advantageously with liquid crystal. The organizer 200 also preferably includes an internal memory and means of connection with the interface module 110.

 The data can be transmitted in block or in full via the external link 300 between the organizer 200 and the interface module 110.

 The function keys 204 can serve as specific keys for selecting the item and for moving in the database.

 Screen 206 is preferably adapted to display text.

 The memory, preferably of RAM type, contained in the organizer 200 is used to store the database corresponding to the telephone directory and to the notepad of the organizer 200 as well as the management software.

 Many portable systems similar to organizers 200, comprising a keyboard for entering data and means for storing the information thus entered, as well as a display, are available on the market in a small footprint and a relatively small short. These portable devices can be used in the context of the invention, provided that they have means of communication with the interface module 110.

 We will now specify specific, preferential and non-limiting modalities of the configuration of the dialogue between the different subsets of the system according to the invention.

 The telephone book records in the organizer 200 may for example have the following format organized into three headings - name, - telephone number, - address (home number, lane type, lane name, name of the city, postal code).

 We can have for example: - DUPONT, -45786952, - 34 with FOCH GRAND PONT 45693.

 For the coordinates of the end point of the navigation, the records of the notepad contained in the organizer 200 can have for example the following format organized in two headings: - name, - address (house number, street type, name track, city name, postal code).

 We can have for example: - DUPONr, - 3 bd. YELLOWS NEIPILIA 34987.

 For route indications, the notepad records contained in the organizer 200 preferably have two fields, the direction indication and the orientation.

 You can have for example: - turn right rue de la Boucherie, - south-east.

 Preferably, the interface module 110 has a configuration menu displayed on the display 112, making it possible to select the type of organizer 200 used from a list of organizers on the market.

To avoid leaving telephone numbers or confidential names in the system, the interface module 110 preferably provides a process for cleaning the diary of the radio telephone 120.

 A self-identification procedure allows certain organizers 200 to be recognized by the system by communicating via the link 300.

 One advantage of this approach is that it combines the flexibility of use of the organizer 200 which makes it possible to easily memorize telephone numbers or names, with the power of an on-board information system 100.

 There is shown in Figure 2 attached, a screen page that can be viewed on the display 112 of the interface module 110 in the context of the configuration menu.

 It can be seen in FIG. 2, the display 112 having a screen page comprising three main areas 115, 116, 117, as well as function keys 114a, 11b associated with this screen page.

 A first display area 115 makes it possible to display the state of the connection between the organizer 200 and the interface module 110.

 A second display area 116 is associated with a function key 11a serving for testing the connection between the organizer 200 and the interface module 110.

 The third display area 117 allows the configuration of the link with the organizer 200. It is for example in the form of a table with three columns corresponding respectively to the type of organizer, to the type of link and to the associated bit rate. Each of these parameters, type of organizer, type of link and bit rate can be selected using a matrix of function keys 1 14b associated, for example a matrix of keys two rows, three columns, each of the two keys of function 1 14b of a given column making it possible to increment or decrement the selection of the associated parameter on the display 112.

 Of course, in the case of direct self-identification of the organizer 200 when it is connected to the interface module 110, only the test button for the connection 1 14a and the display of the state of the link 115 are used.

 To update the telephone directory of radiotelephone 120, the procedure is essentially as follows.

 The owner of the organizer 200 records therein the telephone number of his usual correspondents with their name and address. When he wants to use the radio telephone 120 of the vehicle, he only has to update the agenda of the latter by connecting to the system via the link 300, that is to say by connecting his organizer 200 and the interface module 110 via this link 300, and by pressing a dedicated function key (or by a sequence of keys for low-end organizers).

 This process according to the invention offers many advantages.

 The first advantage lies in the fact that this process allows a faithful copying of the organizer agenda 200 in the radio telephone and this very quickly.

 The second advantage comes from the fact that data entry is easier with the alphanumeric keyboard of the organizer 200 than with the keyboard of the radio telephone 120.

 In addition, not only can the user update the agenda of the radio telephone 120, using the organizer 200, but he can also do the reverse operation, that is to say that it can transfer the agenda of the radio telephone 120 to the organizer 200. In this case, in most cases, the address of the correspondent will not be indicated.

 Most often the updating of the data contained in the radio telephone 120 is an event operated at the start or at the end of the use of the on-board information system 100.

 For this reason, preferably, this update will only be authorized under certain conditions. In addition, as this update requires the sending of a significant amount of information, it is essential to inform the user of the smooth running of events.

 These updates are controlled in the main page of the radiotelephone 120. The corresponding screen page viewed on the display 112 may for example have the appearance illustrated in FIG. 3 appended.

 FIG. 3 shows three function keys 114c, 114d, 114e and four display areas 150, 151, 152 and 153 on the display 112 of the interface module 110.

 The loading phase of the radio telephone 120 from the organizer 200 is preferably initiated by placing the radio telephone 120 on the directory standby. Depending on the type of organizer 200, the loading may then be done automatically, the on-board information system 100 sending a message of the initiation of the loading to the organizer 200 via the interface module 210, or manually, the user triggering the sending of the directory from the organizer 200, by the 'via the link 300 and via the interface module 110, in the radio telephone 120, by actuation of a function key 114c. Preferably, the range 152 associated on the display 112 displays this trigger.

 Preferably, the interface module 110 is adapted to display an error message on the display 112 if no information is delivered after a given time, or even if erroneous information is sent.

 During the update, a bar graph preferably corresponding to the display range 150 indicates the proportion of data sent. For this, the organizer 200 must send at the start of the loading phase, the total amount of information to be transmitted.

 With regard to the reverse phase of loading the organizer 200 from the radio telephone 120, the operations can be triggered, either automatically, as mentioned previously, or by actuation of a function key 1 14d associated with the range witness 151. For the rest, this procedure is the same as previously indicated.

 Finally, the third function key 114e illustrated in FIG. 3 is used for cleaning the directory of the radio telephone 120. It is associated with the range 153 schematically illustrating this cleaning phase.

 The messages can pass between the interface module 110 and the radio telephone 120, or between the interface module 110 and the organizer 200. In the first case, it respects the protocol of the multiplexed network. In the second case, the protocol depends on the organizer 200 used.

 The actions of the user and the exchanges between the interface module 110, the radio telephone 120 and the organizer 200 can be summarized as follows: - pressing by the user on the key of the corresponding interface module 110 when updating the radio telephone 120 causes the updating of the radio telephone 120 to be put in standby mode.

- pressing a button for sending the directory to the organizer 200 or the interface module 110 triggers the sending of the directory from the organizer 200 to the radio telephone 120 via the interface module 110.

- at the end of the update, the radio telephone exits from the update mode.

- on the contrary, pressing a key for receiving the directory on the organizer 200 or the interface module 110 causes the organizer 200 to be put on hold and then triggers reception of the directory on the organizer 200 from the radio telephone 120, via the interface module 110.

- at the end of this transfer, the organizer exits from the update mode.

 Update mode exits can be automatic.

If you want to stop the procedure (manually or after a delay) a stop message is sent to the equipment.

 For the contents of the directory, since the radio telephone 120 generally uses only the name and the number, the additional data contained in the directory of the organizer 200 must be filtered.

 Deleting records from the radiotelephone 220 avoids leaving confidential numbers in the vehicle.

Pressing the corresponding 114th deletion key illustrated in FIG. 3, followed by pressing a confirmation key, preferably, makes it possible to empty this directory.

 To enter the navigation coordinates contained in the organizer 200, in the navigation system 130, the procedure is essentially as follows.

 The addresses of the places where the user wishes to go can be entered into the agenda by notes in a notepad, or correspond to the address of correspondents in the organizer agenda 200. When he has to enter the coordinates of the place of destination of the navigation, the user selects an entry in the diary or the notepad of the organizer 200 and sends the entry in the module 130 by the link 300 by pressing a dedicated key. The main advantage of this process is to avoid having an alphanumeric keyboard secured to the system.

 The phase of entering the coordinates of the point of arrival is operated at a specific time and triggered by the user. Preferably, provision is made for validation of this entry, which validation is requested by the user or operated automatically.

 To transfer navigation coordinates to the on-board system 130, the user must select in the organizer 200 the record which contains the coordinates (in the directory or in the notepad of the organizer 200) and trigger the sending of this recording.

 After having extracted the useful information therefrom (in the case of a registration from the directory, the telephone number is useless) the interface module 110 transfers the registration to the navigation system 130, confirming the entry. If these coordinates are valid, the navigation system 130 informs the interface module 110 which displays them on its screen 112. Otherwise, an error message is displayed and the system waits for valid coordinates.

 The navigation screen then displayed on the screen 112 of the interface module 110 can take the appearance illustrated in FIG. 4.

 In this figure, we can see a function key 114f and four display areas 154, 155, 156 and 157 on the display 112.

 The range 154 makes it possible to view the state of the link, that is to say to specify whether the transfer is successful or not.

 The function key 114f illustrated in FIG. 4, associated with the range 155, makes it possible to control the exit from the mode for entering coordinates.

 Finally, the display ranges 156 and 157 on display 112 make it possible to display the navigation coordinates, for example in the form, for range 156, of the home number, the type of lane and the name of the lane, and for range 157, the name of the city and the postal code.

 We will now describe a variant in accordance with the invention making it possible to transfer a route from the navigation system 130 to the organizer 200.

 There are cases (traffic jam, parking problem, ...) where the user cannot go to the arrival point determined by the navigation system 130, with his vehicle.

 For this, it is provided in the context of the invention, that the portable organizer 200, and therefore disconnectable from the on-board system 100, can receive the route determined by the navigation system 130 on the basis of the coordinates of the destination received as previously indicated.

 For this, it suffices to load into the organizer 200 the route described in successive phases (from where the vehicle is located).

This route will be loaded into the notepad of the organizer 200 and by pressing on the scrolling keys thereof, the user will be able to go to the place of destination by reading the instructions on his organizer 200.

 To transfer a destination from the organizer 200 to the on-board navigation system 130, the procedure is essentially as follows: - the destination is chosen from the directory or the notepad from the organizer 200 and a key for entering the destination is requested on the interface module 110.

- The on-board navigation system 130 is put in destination standby mode. This step, as well as preferably the destination, are displayed on the display 112.

- It is then enough to press a button for sending the destination, on the organizer 200 or the interface module 110, to cause the sending of the destination from the organizer 200 to the on-board navigation system 130 .

- at the end of this entry, the navigation system exits from the destination standby mode, manually or automatically.

this state is preferably displayed on the main screen 112.

 When the organizer 200 is used, in a portable manner, to guide the user, it is generally important to also have the orientation information. This is also generally carried by the navigation system 130 at the same time as the route indication. This orientation information can therefore be simply written in clear in the notepad of the organizer 200. In this case, the user will use a compass integrated in the organizer 200 to orient himself. There are many variations to such a compass. It may for example be an electronic compass.

 The orientation information displayed on the display 206 of the organizer 200 will be compared with the actual orientation of the organizer 200 indicated by the compass.

 To retrieve the route in the organizer 200, it is necessary to put the route on hold, request the information in the on-board navigation system 130, and cause the information to be transferred.

 Again, the loading of the route from the navigation system 130 to the organizer 200 can be controlled free of charge using a screen page displayed on the display 112 of the interface module 110.

 An example of such a screen page is illustrated in Figure 6.

 This figure 6 shows seven display ranges 160 to 166 and six function keys 1 14g to 1141.

 The first range 160 serves as a bar graph making it possible to display the percentage of information transmitted, in a manner comparable to the aforementioned bar graph 150.

 The six function keys 1 14g to 1 14i respectively associated with the six display areas 161, 166 are used to display the loading of the route in the organizer 200, the configuration of the navigation, the simulation of the route, the display of the map, location of the vehicle (for example using a GPS system) and entering the destination, without these particular functions being considered as limiting.

 In this case, the user's actions and the exchanges between the interface module, the navigation system 130 and the organizer 200 are essentially the following - the organizer is put in route waiting mode , - pressing a button for loading the route on the interface module 110 or the organizer 200 results in the transfer of the route, from the navigation module 130, to the organizer 200.

- at the end of the loading, the organizer 200 exits from the route standby mode.

 Of course the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiment which has just been described but extends to any variant in accordance with its spirit.

 It will be understood that the present invention offers numerous advantages over known on-board information systems for motor vehicles.

 In particular, the use of a known organizer for dialogue with the radio telephone 120 and the navigation system 130 makes it possible to enter the information only once when the user receives it. In addition, as indicated above, the presence of the portable organizer allows use as a complement to navigation, by loading the route into its database.

Claims (17)

 1. On-board information system for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: - at least one information module (120, 130) on board the vehicle, capable of managing and storing data and providing information based on this data to a user, - at least one portable module (200) serving as an organizer comprising data storage means, - at least one of the modules (120, 130, 200) comprising data entry means, and - means (300) capable of defining a temporary communication link between the on-board information module (120, 130) and the portable organizer module (200) for transferring data from one of the modules to the other.  2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping means (202) are provided on the portable module (200).  3. System according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the input means (202) are formed by a keyboard.  4. System according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the on-board information module comprises a radio telephone (120) and / or a navigation system (130).  5. System according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the means (300) capable of defining a communication link are adapted to transfer data from the portable module (200) to an on-board module (120, 130 ).  6. System according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the means (300) capable of defining a communication link are adapted to transfer data from an on-board information module (120, 130) to the module portable (200).  7. System according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it further comprises an interface module (110) on board the vehicle, used to provide the connection with the portable organizer module (200).  8. System according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it further comprises a network (140), preferably multiplexed ensuring the connection between the on-board information modules (120, 130) and the portable organizer module (200).  9. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the interface module (110) comprises a display (112), function keys (114), a memory, means of connection with the portable organizer module (200 ) and means of connection with the on-board information modules (120, 130).  10. System according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the means capable of defining a temporary communication link (300) are bidirectional.  11. System according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the means (300) capable of defining a communication link are of wired type, radio or sound optics.  12. System according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the portable organizer module (200) comprises a display screen (206), an input keyboard (202), an internal memory and connection means with the on-board system.  13. System according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the portable module (200) serving as an organizer is adapted to receive a route from an on-board navigation module (130), to allow guide a user outside his vehicle.  14. System according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the portable module (200) comprises a compass.  15. Use of the system according to one of claims 1 to 14, for loading a directory into a radio telephone (120) on board a vehicle and / or a destination address or a route in a navigation system (130) on board the vehicle, using a pocket organizer (200).  16. vehicle on-board information system, according to one of claims 1 to 14, and comprising at least one on-board information module (120, 130) capable of managing and storing data and providing information based on this data to a user, and an interface module (110).  17. Portable organizer module according to one of claims 1 to 14.