WO2022157036A1

WO2022157036A1 - Method, computer program and device for controlling output of confidential information in a vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2022157036A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/050413
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Leiber; Steffen Kittel; Manfred Knye
Original assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft; Audi Ag
Priority date: 2021-01-19
Filing date: 2022-01-11
Publication date: 2022-07-28
Also published as: EP4281973A1; DE102021100985A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method, a computer program with instructions and a device for controlling the output of confidential information in a vehicle. The invention furthermore relates to a vehicle in which a method according to the invention or a device according to the invention is used. In a first step, a user input is received (10), the information comprising a selection of an output device to be used for outputting the confidential information. The confidential information is then received (11), and the information is subsequently output (12) by the selected output device.

Description

description

Method, computer program and device for controlling the reproduction of confidential information in a means of transport

The present invention relates to a method, a computer program with instructions and a device for controlling the reproduction of confidential information in a means of transportation. The invention further relates to a means of transportation in which a method according to the invention or a device according to the invention is used.

One risk that diabetics are exposed to when operating means of transport is the occurrence of hypoglycaemia, more rarely also hyperglycaemia, and the associated impairment of controllability. Therefore, regular monitoring of the blood sugar level in the means of transport is vital for diabetics. Today's continuous glucose measurement systems (C GM systems) monitor the blood sugar level quasi-continuously and can transmit the measured values via wireless interfaces, e.g. using NFC (NFC: Near Field Communication; near field communication) or Bluetooth LE.

Against this background, DE 10 2018 216 128 A1 describes a method for operating a motor vehicle system. A monitoring device of the motor vehicle receives a vital data signal, which describes a blood sugar value of a user of the motor vehicle, from a transmission unit of a mobile terminal device. The monitoring device checks whether the blood sugar value deviates from a normal value range. If so, an action for assisting the user in monitoring the blood glucose level and an automotive system for performing the action are determined. The monitoring device generates a monitoring signal that describes the specified measure and transmits this to the motor vehicle system.

So that the diabetic can read his blood sugar level, this must be shown on a display. Today, a smartphone with a suitable app or a dedicated reader is usually used for this purpose. However, the use of these two display methods is associated with disadvantages in terms of comfort and safety in the means of transport, since, for example, the device must be held in the hand or it must be attached to the means of transport. Anecdotal reports from diabetics prove that in practice the smartphone with the corresponding display of the Blood glucose value is often placed in front of the instrument cluster of a vehicle and thus covers other important displays.

To avoid these disadvantages, a display on a suitable vehicle display is a sensible solution. However, the diabetic must not be forced to enter the data in the usual ways, e.g. B. the smartphone, since the assessment of the course of the blood sugar values over a longer period of time is an important source of information for the sick.

Against this background, DE 10 2010 055 358 A1 describes an interior part for a motor vehicle that has a measuring device for determining the blood sugar level of a vehicle occupant. The measuring device can be coupled to an output device on the vehicle, in particular to a voice output device or a display. A data value indicating the blood sugar content or a warning can be communicated to the vehicle occupant by means of the output device.

Some diabetics face the additional challenge that they do not want to make their illness public for individual reasons. An acoustic or visual display in the vehicle on the infotainment screen or in the instrument cluster could possibly be visible to other vehicle occupants and therefore make it public that the driver has diabetes.

The problem of confidentiality does not only exist in the reproduction of blood sugar values, but in principle when confidential information is to be reproduced.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved solutions for the reproduction of confidential information in a means of transportation.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1, by a computer program with instructions according to claim 8 and by a device having the features of claim 9. Preferred developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a method for controlling the reproduction of confidential information in a means of transportation comprises the steps: - receiving user input with a selection of a playback device to be used for playback of the confidential information;

- receiving the confidential information; and

- reproducing the confidential information by the selected reproducing device.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a computer program comprises instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the following steps for controlling a display of confidential information in a means of transport:

- receiving user input with a selection of a playback device to be used for playback of the confidential information;

- receiving the confidential information; and

- reproducing the confidential information by the selected reproducing device.

The term computer is to be understood broadly. In particular, it also includes control units, embedded systems and other processor-based data processing devices.

The computer program can be provided for electronic retrieval, for example, or it can be stored on a computer-readable storage medium.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a device for controlling the reproduction of confidential information in a means of transportation has:

- a first receiving module for receiving a user input with a selection of a display device to be used for displaying the confidential information;

- a second receiving module for receiving the confidential information; and

- a playback module for playback of the confidential information by the selected playback device.

In the solution according to the invention, the user has the option of using a human-machine interface with a suitable selection mechanism to specify the playback device for the playback of the confidential information depending on the desired privacy. Unlike known solutions, the user can achieve a high level of privacy protection by allowing playback the confidential information selects a display device of the means of transport that can only be viewed or perceived by the user or persons selected by the user.

According to one aspect of the invention, the playback device is an optical playback device or an acoustic playback device. For example, the optical display device can be a head-up display, an instrument cluster or an infotainment display. For example, the acoustic reproduction device can be a directional or non-directional loudspeaker. The playback devices mentioned offer different visibility or perceptibility for different occupants of the means of transportation. A specific playback device can therefore be selected depending on the desired privacy of the user concerned.

According to one aspect of the invention, the confidential information is provided by a user device. The user device can be, for example, a reading device, such as a smartphone, a tablet, or a dedicated reading device. If the confidential information is provided by a measuring device, it can be provided either parallel to the reading device or via the reading device to the means of transport.

According to one aspect of the invention, the user device is connected to the means of transportation via a wireless interface. By using a wireless connection, e.g. via Bluetooth, NFC, or WLAN, there is no need for a cable to connect the user device to the means of transport. This increases the user comfort and facilitates the use of the user device.

According to one aspect of the invention, the confidential information is health-related information. For example, the health-related information can be blood sugar levels. Diabetes is a widespread disease that can potentially impair the ability to operate a means of transport and thus lead to accidents. The recording and display of the blood sugar values while operating the means of transport makes it possible to significantly reduce the risk of accidents. The blood sugar values of other occupants of the means of transport who suffer from diabetes, for example children traveling in the back seat, can also be displayed using the described solution. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the confidential information is played back by the selected playback device only if the confidential information satisfies a playback criterion. The use of a playback device of a means of transportation makes it possible to take into account the special conditions in the means of transportation, such as the traffic situation or the stress on the operator. For example, there is the option of only activating the reproduction of confidential information if certain criteria are met. For example, the acoustic and/or visual display of the blood sugar value or an associated warning can only be activated if the blood sugar exceeds or falls below certain individual threshold values, and otherwise no display takes place. In this way, the operator of the means of transportation is not unnecessarily distracted.

A method according to the invention or a device according to the invention is used particularly advantageously in a means of transportation. The means of transportation can in particular be a motor vehicle, e.g. a passenger car or a commercial vehicle, but also a ship, a rail vehicle, an aircraft, e.g. a Volocopter, etc. There is also the possibility of using a solution according to the invention in other safety-relevant areas in which, for example, hypoglycaemia can lead to accidents and in which the privacy of the person concerned is to be protected.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the figures.

1 schematically shows a method for controlling the reproduction of confidential information in a means of transportation;

2 shows a first embodiment of a device for controlling the reproduction of confidential information in a means of transportation;

3 shows a second embodiment of a device for controlling the reproduction of confidential information in a means of transportation;

Fig. 4 schematically represents a means of locomotion in which a solution according to the invention is implemented; 5 schematically shows an interior of a motor vehicle with different display devices; and

Fig. 6 schematically shows a settings menu for selecting a playback device.

For a better understanding of the principles of the present invention, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. It is understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments and that the features described can also be combined or modified without leaving the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1 schematically shows a method for controlling the reproduction of confidential information in a means of transportation. In a first step, a user input is received 10. This includes a selection of a playback device to be used for the playback of the confidential information. The playback device can in particular be an optical playback device, e.g. a head-up display, an instrument cluster or an infotainment display, or an acoustic playback device, e.g. a directional or non-directional loudspeaker. The confidential information is then received 11. The confidential information can be provided, for example, by a user device that is optionally connected to the means of transportation via a wireless interface. The confidential information can in particular be health-related information, e.g. a blood sugar value. The confidential information is then played back 12 by the selected playback device. It can be provided that the confidential information is only played back if it meets a playback criterion.

FIG. 2 shows a simplified schematic representation of a first embodiment of a device 20 for controlling the reproduction of confidential information VI in a means of transportation. The device 20 has an input 21 via which a first reception module 22 receives a user input NE with a selection of a playback device 42, 42', 42", 43, 43' to be used for the playback of the confidential information VI. The playback device can in particular be an optical playback device 42, 42', 42'', eg a head-up display, an instrument cluster or an infotainment display, or an acoustic playback device 43, 43', eg a directional or non-directional speaker. A second receiving module 23 is set up to receive the confidential information VI via the input 21 . For this purpose, the confidential information VI can be provided, for example, by a user device which is optionally connected to the means of transportation via a wireless interface. The confidential information VI can in particular be health-related information, for example a blood sugar level. A reproduction module 24 is set up to reproduce the confidential information VI through the selected reproduction device 42, 42', 42", 43, 43'. For this purpose, the playback module 24 can output the confidential information VI or playback signals derived therefrom via an output 27 of the device 20 to the selected playback device 42, 42', 42", 43, 43'. Provision can be made for the confidential information VI to be reproduced only if it meets a reproduction criterion

The reception modules 22, 23 and the playback module 24 can be controlled by a control module 25. If necessary, settings of the receiving modules 22, 23, the playback module 24 or the control module 25 can be changed via a user interface 28. The data occurring in the device 20 can be stored in a memory 26 if required, for example for later evaluation or for use by the components of the device 20. The receiving modules 22, 23, the playback module 24 and the control module 25 can be implemented as dedicated hardware be, for example, as integrated circuits. Of course, they can also be partially or fully combined or implemented as software running on a suitable processor, such as a GPU or a CPU. The input 21 and the output 27 can be implemented as separate interfaces or as a combined bidirectional interface.

FIG. 3 shows a simplified schematic representation of a second embodiment of a device 30 for controlling the reproduction of confidential information in a means of transportation. The device 30 has a processor 32 and a memory 31 . For example, the device 30 is a computer or a control device. Instructions are stored in the memory 31 which, when executed by the processor 32, cause the device 30 to carry out the steps according to one of the methods described. The instructions stored in the memory 31 thus embody a program which can be executed by the processor 32 and implements the method according to the invention. The device 30 has an input 33 for receiving information, for example user input or to be reproduced confidential information. Data generated by the processor 32 is provided via an output 34 . In addition, they can be stored in memory 31. The input 33 and the output 34 can be combined to form a bidirectional interface.

Processor 32 may include one or more processing units, such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, or combinations thereof.

The memories 26, 31 of the described embodiments can have both volatile and non-volatile memory areas and can include a wide variety of memory devices and storage media, for example hard disks, optical storage media or semiconductor memories.

FIG. 4 shows schematically a means of transportation 40 in which a solution according to the invention is implemented. In this example, the means of transportation 40 is a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has a number of playback devices 42, 42', 42", 43, 43'. In particular, these can be optical playback devices 42, 42', 42", eg a head-up display, an instrument cluster or an infotainment display, or acoustic playback devices 43, 43', eg a directional or non-directional loudspeaker. In addition, the motor vehicle has a user interface 41 via which a user can select a playback device 42, 42', 42", 43, 43' to be used for the playback of confidential information. A user device 50 can be connected to the motor vehicle as a source of confidential information by means of a wireless interface 44 . The confidential information can in particular be health-related information, for example blood sugar levels. A device 20 according to the invention then ensures that the confidential information is reproduced by the desired reproduction device 42, 42', 42", 43, 43'. Other components of the motor vehicle are a navigation system 45, a data transmission unit 46 and a number of assistance systems 47, one of which is shown as an example. GPS data can be provided by the navigation system 45 if required. A connection to service providers or other motor vehicles can be established by means of the data transmission unit 46 . This makes it possible, for example, to make an emergency call in the event of a health emergency. A memory 48 is provided for storing data. The exchange of data between the various components of the motor vehicle takes place via a network 49. Fig. 5 schematically shows an interior of a motor vehicle with different reproduction devices 42, 42', 42", 43, 43'. On the one hand, these are optical reproduction devices 42, 42', 42", on the other hand acoustic reproduction devices 43, 43'. A first optical display device 42 is a head-up display, a second optical display device 42' is an instrument cluster and a third optical display device 42'' is an infotainment display. The user can also use the infotainment display to select a playback device 42, 42', 42", 43, 43' for the playback of confidential information. A first acoustic reproduction device 43 is a directional loudspeaker. This generates directed sound waves that can only be perceived in a limited area of perception. A second acoustic reproduction device 43' is a non-directional loudspeaker. Emissions from this loudspeaker can be heard throughout the interior of the motor vehicle.

6 schematically shows a settings menu 60 for selecting a playback device. The settings menu 60 can be displayed on an infotainment display, for example. A series of menu items 61 , each provided with a selection element 62 , are displayed for selecting a playback device for the playback of confidential information. In this case, a multiple selection is possible for the selection elements 62 for the optical reproduction devices. Only a single selection can be made for the selection elements 62 for the acoustic playback devices.

reference number

10 receiving a user input with a selection of a playback device

11 Receiving Confidential Information

12 Reproducing the confidential information by the selected one

playback device

20 device

21 entrance

22 First receiver module

23 Second receiver module

24 Playback Module

25 control module

26 memories

27 exit

28 user interface

30 device

31 memory

32 processor

33 entrance

34 exit

40 means of transport

41 user interface

42, 42' Optical reproducing device

42"

43, 43' Acoustic reproduction device

44 wireless interface

45 navigation system

46 data transfer unit

47 assistance systems

48 memory

49 network

50 user device

60 settings menu

61 menu item

62 selection item

NE user input

VI Confidential Information

Claims

Claims Method for controlling the reproduction of confidential information (VI) in a means of transportation (40), with the steps:

- receiving (10) a user input (NE) with a selection of a playback device (42, 42', 42", 43, 43') to be used for the playback of the confidential information (VI);

- receiving (11) the confidential information (VI); and

- reproducing (12) the confidential information (VI) by the selected reproducing device (42, 42', 42", 43, 43'). Method according to claim 1, wherein the playback device (42, 42', 42', 43) is an optical playback device (42, 42', 42") or an acoustic playback device (43, 43'). Method according to claim 2, wherein the display device (42, 42', 42', 43, 43') is a head-up display, an instrument cluster, an infotainment display or a directional or non-directional speaker. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the confidential information (VI) is provided by a user device (50). The method of claim 4, wherein the user device (50) is connected to the vehicle (40) via a wireless interface (44). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the confidential information (VI) is health-related information. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the confidential information (VI) is only reproduced (12) by the selected reproduction device (42, 42', 42", 43, 43') if the confidential information (VI) meets a reproduction criterion . Computer program with instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 for controlling a display of confidential information (VI) in a means of transport (40). Device (20) for controlling a reproduction of confidential information (VI) in a means of transportation (40), with:

- a first receiving module (22) for receiving (10) a user input (NE) with a selection of a display device (42, 42', 42", 43, 43') to be used for displaying the confidential information (VI);

- a second receiving module (23) for receiving (11) the confidential information (VI); and

- a display module (24) for displaying (12) the confidential information (VI) through the selected display device (42, 42', 42", 43, 43'). Means of transportation (40) with two or more playback devices (42, 42', 42", 43, 43'), characterized in that the means of transportation (40) has a device (20) according to claim 9 or is set up, a method according to one of Claims 1 to 7 for controlling a reproduction of confidential information (VI).