Embedded in-vehicle platform for providing immersive user experiences

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020283005-A1
Application number	US-201916295959-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 7, 2019
Priority date	Mar 7, 2019
Publication date	Sep 10, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for an embedded in-vehicle platform that provides immersive user experiences. An example method includes obtaining, by a vehicle controller of a vehicle, a preference profile for a user; loading the preference profile by the vehicle controller; determining a shopping experience of the user occurring on a vehicle shopping platform within the vehicle; determining an ambience profile of a merchant identified in the shopping experience; and controlling, by the vehicle controller, an in-vehicle ambience within the vehicle based on the ambience profile and the preference profile.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1 . A method, comprising:
obtaining, by a vehicle controller of a vehicle, a preference profile for a user; loading the preference profile by the vehicle controller; determining a shopping experience of the user occurring on a vehicle shopping platform within the vehicle; determining an ambience profile of a merchant identified in the shopping experience; and controlling, by the vehicle controller, an in-vehicle ambience within the vehicle based on the ambience profile and the preference profile.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein controlling, by the vehicle controller, the in-vehicle ambience within the vehicle based on the ambience profile and the preference profile further comprises activating a scent dispensing device that comprises scents.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein controlling, by the vehicle controller, the in-vehicle ambience within the vehicle based on the ambience profile and the preference profile further comprises controlling an entertainment or infotainment system of the vehicle to output audio content to the user.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein controlling, by the vehicle controller, the in-vehicle ambience within the vehicle based on the ambience profile and the preference profile further comprises selectively changing at least one of a luminance or a hue of one or more lighting elements within an interior of the vehicle.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising executing a voice assist protocol to guide the user during the shopping experience, the voice assist protocol being a part of the ambience profile.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
during the shopping experience, obtaining biometric feedback from the user from one or more biometric sensors in a seat of the vehicle; determining at least one of a mood, a heart rate, or a comfort level for the user based on the biometric feedback; and updating the user profile with the mood, the heart rate, or the comfort level for the user.

7 . A vehicle, comprising:
a micro-environment assembly configured to selectively adjust an ambience within a vehicle by providing any combination of one or more of visual, auditory, or olfactory output; and a vehicle controller comprising a processor and a memory, the processor being configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
obtain a preference profile for a user;
load the preference profile by the vehicle controller;
determine a shopping experience of the user occurring on a vehicle shopping platform within the vehicle;
determine an ambience profile of a merchant identified in the shopping experience; and
control the micro-environment assembly to selectively adjust the ambience within the vehicle based on the ambience profile and the preference profile to provide the user with an immersive experience.

8 . The vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein the micro-environment assembly comprises a scent dispenser that outputs scented compounds in accordance with at least one of the ambience profile or the preference profile.

9 . The vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to cause an entertainment or infotainment system of the vehicle to output audio content to the user in accordance with at least one of the ambience profile or the preference profile.

10 . The vehicle according to claim 7 , further comprising one or more lighting elements within an interior of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to selectively change at least one of a luminance or a hue of the one or more lighting elements in accordance with at least one of the ambience profile or the preference profile.

11 . The vehicle according to claim 7 , further comprising a voice command system, wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to implement a voice assist protocol on the voice command system to guide the user during the shopping experience.

12 . The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the voice assist protocol is a part of the ambience profile, the voice assist protocol comprising an interactive chat feature that provides question and answer engagement with the user.

13 . The vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to cause a climate control system of the vehicle to increase or decrease temperature or airspeed within the vehicle.

14 . The vehicle according to claim 7 , further comprising one or more biometric sensors within a seat of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
during the shopping experience, obtain biometric feedback from the user from the one or more biometric sensors; determine at least one of a mood, a heart rate, or a comfort level for the user based on the biometric feedback; and update the user profile with the mood, the heart rate, or the comfort level for the user.

15 . A system, comprising:
a service provider that:
generates and maintains preference profiles of users; and
obtains ambience profiles from third-party entities; and
a vehicle comprising:
a micro-environment assembly configured to selectively adjust an ambience within a vehicle by providing any combination of one or more of visual, auditory, or olfactory output; and
a vehicle controller comprising a processor and a memory, the processor being configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
obtain a preference profile for a user from the service provider;
load the preference profile by the vehicle controller;
determine a shopping experience of the user occurring on a vehicle shopping platform within the vehicle;
determine an ambience profile of a merchant identified in the shopping experience;
load the ambience profile by the vehicle controller; and
control the micro-environment assembly to selectively adjust the ambience within the vehicle based on the ambience profile and the preference profile.

16 . The system according to claim 15 , further comprising one or more biometric sensors within a seat of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
during the shopping experience, obtain biometric feedback from the user from the one or more biometric sensors; determine at least one of a mood, a heart rate, or a comfort level for the user based on the biometric feedback; and update the user profile with the mood, the heart rate, or the comfort level for the user.

17 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the micro-environment assembly comprises a scent dispenser that outputs scented compounds in accordance with at least one of the ambience profile or the preference profile.

18 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to cause an entertainment or infotainment system of the vehicle to output audio content to the user in accordance with at least one of the ambience profile or the preference profile.

19 . The system according to claim 15 , further comprising one or more lighting elements within an interior of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to selectively change at le

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Shah Ayush
• Yeung Jeffrey
• Martinez Harald C
• Gusikhin Oleg

Classifications

• B60Q2900/50

  Arrangements to reconfigure features of lighting or signalling devices, or to choose from a list of pre-defined settings · CPC title

• B60H2003/0064

  adding more than one substance · CPC title

• B60H3/0035

  characterised by the control methods for adding the substance · CPC title

• G06Q30/0201 Primary

  Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data · CPC title

• B60Q3/80

  Circuits; Control arrangements (for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47) · CPC title