Method and apparatus for controlling vehicular user interface under driving circumstance

1. A method for controlling an in-vehicle user interface, the method comprising:

monitoring a driving mode of a vehicle;

determining, in response to the driving mode, whether to provide at least one window as an input/output module allowing a driver or a passenger to interact with at least one of a computing device, a camera, and a multimedia device provided in, or engaged with, the vehicle; and

outputting a notification through the window in response to a determination result,

wherein when a first condition for moving the vehicle and a second condition for detecting the driving mode except an autonomous driving state are satisfied, all windows except a window next to a driver's seat are activated,

when the window is opened, the window corresponding to open state is inactivated, and

when a battery charging state is below a predetermined range or level, all windows are inactivated.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the driving mode is determined in accordance with at least one of a speed of the vehicle, the autonomous driving state, a driving road condition, and a predetermined condition preset by the driver or the passenger, and

wherein the predetermined condition is stored in the vehicle, and is received or updated through a telematics server with which the vehicle is engaged.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the window is allowed to be used as the input/output module when the driving mode is the autonomous driving state.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further including:

limiting the notification according to a position of the window.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the limiting the notification including:

determining whether the window is adjacent to the driver's seat;

allowing the notification when the window is not adjacent to the driver's seat;

allowing the notification when the vehicle is not moving and the window is adjacent to the driver's seat;

monitoring whether the driving mode is the autonomous driving state when the vehicle is moving and the window is adjacent to the driver's seat;

allowing the notification in the autonomous driving state when the window is adjacent to the driver's seat; and

limiting the notification when the window is adjacent to the driver's seat and the driving mode is not the autonomous driving state.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further including:

monitoring the battery charge state of the vehicle; and

limiting the notification when the battery charging state falls within a predetermined range.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the notification includes at least one of a color and a pattern displayed on the window.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the notification is outputted respectively for each window mounted on the vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further including:

receiving an input from the driver or the passenger at the window only through which the notification is outputted.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the input includes at least one of a touch input and a breath input.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further including:

limiting the notification in response to a door open state and a window open state of the vehicle.

12. An apparatus for controlling a window mounted on a vehicle, provided or engaged with at least one of a computing device, a camera, and a multimedia device, including a processing system that includes at least one data processor and at least one computer-readable memory storing a computer program, wherein the processing system is configured to cause the apparatus to:

monitor a driving mode of the vehicle;

determine, in response to the driving mode, whether to provide at least one window as an input/output module allowing a driver or a passenger to interact with at least one of the computing device, the camera, and the multimedia device; and

output a notification through the at least one window in response to a determination result,

wherein when a first condition for moving the vehicle and a second condition for detecting the driving mode except an autonomous driving state are satisfied all windows except a window next to a driver's seat are activated,

when the window is opened, the window corresponding to open state is inactivate, and

when a battery charging state is below a predetermined range or level, all windows are inactivated.

13. An apparatus for controlling an in-vehicle user interface, the apparatus comprising:

a driving mode monitoring unit configured to monitor a driving mode of a vehicle;

a determination unit configured to determine, in response to the driving mode, whether to provide at least one window as an input/output module allowing a driver or a passenger to interact with at least one of a computing device, a camera, and a multimedia device provided in, or engaged with, the vehicle;

a notification unit configured to output a notification through the at least one window in response to a result delivered from the determination unit; and

a controller for limiting the notification according to a position of the window,

wherein when a first condition for moving the vehicle and a second condition for detecting the driving mode except an autonomous driving state are satisfied, all windows except a window next to a driver's seat are activated,

when the window is opened, the window corresponding to open state is inactivated, and

when a battery charging state is below a predetermined range or level, all windows are inactivated.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the driving mode monitoring unit determines the driving mode based on at least one of a speed of the vehicle, the autonomous driving state, a driving road condition, and a predetermined condition preset by the driver or the passenger, and

wherein the determination unit allows the window to be used as the input/output module when the driving mode is the autonomous driving state.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 ,

wherein the controller is configured to:

when the window is adjacent to the driver's seat, allow the notification when the vehicle is not moving;

when the vehicle is moving, monitor whether the driving mode is the autonomous travelling state through the driving mode monitoring unit;

allow the notification in the autonomous driving state; and

limit the notification when the driving mode is not in the autonomous driving state.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13 , further including:

a battery management unit configured to monitor a charge state of a battery in the vehicle,

wherein the notification unit limits the notification when the charging state of the battery falls within a predetermined range.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13 ,

wherein the notification includes at least one of a color and a pattern displayed on the window, and

wherein the notification is outputted respectively for each window mounted on the vehicle.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13 , further including:

a receiver for receiving an input from the driver or the passenger at the window only through which the notification is outputted,

wherein the input includes at least one of a touch input and a breath input.

19. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the notification unit limits the notification in response to a door open state and a window open state of the vehicle.

20. The apparatus according to claim 13 , further including a communication unit configured to:

engage the at least one of the computing device, the camera, and the multimedia device with an audio-video-navigation device provided in the vehicle; or

engage the at least one of the computing device, the camera, and the multimedia device with a mobile device coupled to a wireless communication unit in the vehicle,

wherein the communication unit is coupled to the audio-video-navigation device via a controller area network (CAN), while the communication unit is coupled to a mobile device through a short-range wireless communication method.