Method for arbitrating between multiple vehicle navigation systems
A method for arbitrating between vehicle navigation systems in the event that multiple systems are concurrently activated so that information is provided to a user by only one navigation system at a time. This method of arbitration reduces the possibility of user confusion that could otherwise occur if multiple vehicle navigation systems were simultaneously providing the user with information. According to one embodiment, the arbitration method is used in conjunction with a telematics-based system and a CD-based system that both provide turn-by-turn spoken driving directions. The method can also be used to arbitrate between any vehicle-based sources of electronically-supplied audio speech, particularly where the systems are connected to a common vehicle network that allows software control of the different vehicle systems.
1. An electronically-controlled method of arbitrating between separate vehicle navigation systems that are available to an occupant on board a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
(a) determining the operational status of at least one of first and second vehicle navigation systems that are accessible to the occupant in order to determine if more than one of said separate vehicle navigation systems are currently activated, wherein said first vehicle navigation system is a telematics-based vehicle navigation system and said second vehicle navigation system is an autonomous vehicle navigation system that is separate from said first vehicle navigation system;
(b) if more than one of said separate vehicle navigation systems are currently activated, then:
(b1) selecting one of said separate vehicle navigation systems;
(b2) running an active session for the selected vehicle navigation system so that the selected vehicle navigation system provides the occupant with navigation-related services; and
(b3) preventing an active session from running on the unselected vehicle navigation system so that the unselected vehicle navigation system is prevented from providing the occupant with navigation-related services, wherein only one of said separate vehicle navigation systems is running an active session at a time.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first and second vehicle navigation systems are integrated with the vehicle electronics by being coupled to a vehicle network bus.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said operational status of said step (a) is determined from a query of at least one of said first and second vehicle navigation systems.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said operational status of said step (a) is determined from an activation signal that is generated when one of said first and second vehicle navigation systems is activated.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said operational status of said step (a) is determined from a signal that is periodically sent by at least one of said first and second vehicle navigation systems.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (b1) utilizes a verbal human/machine interface (HMI) to determine which of said vehicle navigation systems the occupant wishes to use.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (b1) utilizes a graphical user interface (GUI) to determine which of said vehicle navigation systems the occupant wishes to use.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (b1) utilizes stored, predetermined selections to determine which of said vehicle navigation systems the occupant wishes to use.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (b1) utilizes one or more past selections to determine which of said vehicle navigation systems the occupant wishes to use.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method arbitrates between said first and second vehicle navigation systems and at least one additional system.
11. A method of arbitrating between separate vehicle navigation systems that are available to an occupant on board a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving an activation signal indicating that a first vehicle navigation system has been activated;
(b) determining the operational status of a second vehicle navigation system that is separate from said first vehicle navigation system;
(c) if said second vehicle navigation system is not currently activated, then running an active session for said first vehicle navigation system and providing the occupant with navigation-related services from said first vehicle navigation system; and
(d) if said second system is currently activated, then determining which of said first and second vehicle navigation systems the occupant wishes to use by interacting with the occupant via an interface and receiving a selection from the occupant:
i) if the occupant selects said second vehicle navigation system, then ignoring said activation signal and preventing said first vehicle navigation system from providing the occupant with navigation-related services; and
ii) if the occupant selects said first vehicle navigation system, then running an active session for said first vehicle navigation system and providing the occupant with navigation-related services from said first vehicle navigation system, and preventing said second vehicle navigation system from running an active session and refraining from providing the occupant with navigation-related services from the second vehicle navigation system, so that only one of said first and second vehicle navigation systems is running an active session at a time.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said interface of step (d) is a verbal human/machine interface (HMI).
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said interface of step (d) is a graphical user interface (GUI).