DE-102025146173-A1 - MEDIA PROFILE SWITCHING FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a method for adapting a media provider application running on a vehicle's electronic control unit (ECU) comprises receiving an initial driver profile selection associated with a first driver over a local network; determining an initial credential folder associated with the first driver by a processor of the ECU, wherein the initial credential folder is stored in a memory of the ECU; assigning the initial credential folder to a default credential folder for a media provider application by the processor, wherein the default credential folder is stored in memory; and restarting the media provider application by the processor to adapt the media provider application for the first driver.

Inventors

• CALVIN CHANG
• Alex Monteiro
• Mauro Horie
• Yin Lok Lai
• Chan Wei Liang

Assignees

• RIVIAN IP HOLDINGS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20251110

Priority Date

20251029

Claims (20)

1. A method for adapting a media provider application running on a vehicle's electronic control unit (ECU), comprising: Receiving an initial driver profile selection associated with a first driver over a local network; Determining an initial credential folder associated with the first driver by a processor of an ECU, wherein the initial credential folder is stored in memory of the ECU; Assigning the initial credential folder to a default credential folder for a media provider application by the processor, wherein the default credential folder is stored in memory; and Restarting the media provider application by the processor to adapt the media provider application for the first driver.
2. Procedure according to Claim 1 , where: the default credentials folder has a default name; the first credentials folder has a first name; and assigning the first credentials folder includes: deleting the default credentials folder from memory, and renaming the first credentials folder from the first name to the default name.
3. Procedure according to Claim 2 , further comprising: receiving a second driver profile selection assigned to a second driver over the local network; determining a second credential folder assigned to the second driver by the processor, wherein the second credential folder has a second name and is stored in memory; assigning the second credential folder to the default credential folder by the processor; and restarting the media provider application by the processor to adapt the media provider application for the second driver.
4. Procedure according to Claim 3 , where assigning the second credentials folder includes: renaming the default credentials folder from the default name to the first name, and renaming the second credentials folder from the second name to the default name.
5. Procedure according to Claim 1 , where: assigning the first credentials folder includes: deleting the contents of the default credentials folder and copying the contents of the first credentials folder to the default credentials folder.
6. Procedure according to Claim 5 , further comprising: receiving a second driver profile selection assigned to a second driver over the local network; determining a second credential folder assigned to the second driver by the processor, storing the second credential folder in memory; assigning the second credential folder to the default credential folder by the processor; and restarting the media provider application by the processor to adapt the media provider application for the second driver.
7. Procedure according to Claim 6 , where assigning the second credentials folder includes: deleting the contents of the default credentials folder; and copying the contents of the second credentials folder to the default credentials folder.
8. Non-transitory, computer-readable medium on which instructions are stored which, when executed by a processor of a vehicle's electronic control unit (ECU), cause the processor to: Receive an initial driver profile selection associated with a first driver over a local network; Determine an initial credential folder associated with the first driver, the initial credential folder being stored in memory within the ECU; Assign the initial credential folder to a default credential folder for a media provider application, the default credential folder being stored in memory; and Restart the media provider application to adapt the media provider application for the first driver.
9. Non-transitory computer-readable medium according to Claim 8 , where: the default credentials folder has a default name; the first credentials folder has a first name; and assigning the first credentials folder involves: deleting the default credentials folder from memory, and renaming the first credentials folder from the first name to the default name.
10. Non-transitory computer-readable medium according to Claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to: receive a second driver profile selection, associated with a second driver, over the local network; determine a second credentials folder, associated with the second driver, the second credentials folder having a second name and stored in memory; assign the second credentials folder to the default credentials folder; and restart the media provider application to adapt the media provider application for the second driver.
11. Non-transitory computer-readable medium according to Claim 10 , where assigning the second credentials folder includes: renaming the default credentials folder from the default name to the first name, and renaming the second credentials folder from the second name to the default name.
12. Non-transitory computer-readable medium according to Claim 8 , where: assigning the first credentials folder includes: deleting the contents of the default credentials folder and copying the contents of the first credentials folder to the default credentials folder.
13. Non-transitory computer-readable medium according to Claim 12 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to: receive a second driver profile selection associated with a second driver over the local network; determine a second credentials folder associated with the second driver, storing the second credentials folder in memory; assign the second credentials folder to the default credentials folder; and restart the media provider application to adapt the media provider application for the second driver.
14. Non-transitory computer-readable medium according to Claim 13 , where assigning the second credentials folder includes: deleting the contents of the default credentials folder; and copying the contents of the second credentials folder to the default credentials folder.
15. System, comprising: a memory that stores a default credential folder for a media provider application and an initial credential folder assigned to a first driver; a processor connected to the memory and a local network, the processor being configured to: receive an initial driver profile selection assigned to the first driver over the local network; determine the initial credential folder assigned to the first driver; assign the initial credential folder to the default credential folder; and restart the media provider application to customize the media provider application for the first driver.
16. System according Claim 15 , where: the default credentials folder has a default name; the first credentials folder has a first name; and assigning the first credentials folder includes: deleting the default credentials folder from memory, and renaming the first credentials folder from the first name to the default name.
17. System according Claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to: receive a second driver profile selection assigned to a second driver over the local network; determine a second credentials folder assigned to the second driver, the second credentials folder having a second name and being stored in memory; assign the second credentials folder to the default credentials folder; and restart the media provider application to adapt the media provider application for the second driver.
18. System according Claim 17 , whereby the assignment of the second credentials folder This includes: renaming the default credentials folder from the default name to the first name, and renaming the second credentials folder from the second name to the default name.
19. System according Claim 15 , where: assigning the first credentials folder includes: deleting the contents of the default credentials folder and copying the contents of the first credentials folder to the default credentials folder.
20. System according Claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to: receive a second driver profile selection, assigned to a second driver, over the local network; determine a second credential folder, assigned to the second driver, storing the second credential folder in memory; assign the second credential folder to the default credential folder, including deleting the contents of the default credential folder; and copy the contents of the second credential folder to the default credential folder; and restart the media provider application to adapt the media provider application for the second driver.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED REGISTRATIONS This application claims the benefit of the preliminary US patent application serial no. 63/719,047 (submitted on November 11, 2024), the contents of which are incorporated herein in full by reference. STATE OF THE ART The present disclosure relates to vehicles. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an information and entertainment system for a vehicle. Vehicles with natively integrated media provider applications, such as electric vehicles (EVs), allow a user (e.g., the driver, passenger, etc.) to log into their personal media accounts to access their subscription content, such as music, audiobooks, podcasts, movies, etc., as well as subscription settings, recommendations, etc., via a wireless network. This process is similar to accessing a user's personal media accounts via a smartphone, tablet, etc. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 1 Figure 1 shows a diagram of an exemplary electric vehicle (EV) according to embodiments of the present disclosure.2 represents a block diagram of example components of an EV according to embodiments of the present disclosure.2 presents a diagram of example components of a control system for an EV according to embodiments of the present disclosure.3B represents a diagram of example components of a control system zone for an EV according to embodiments of the present disclosure.3C represents a diagram of example components of another control system zone for an EV according to embodiments of the present disclosure.3D represents a diagram of example components of another control system zone for an EV according to embodiments of the present disclosure.4 shows a process flow diagram for adapting a media provider application running on an electronic control unit (ECU) of an electric vehicle, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.5 shows a flowchart describing the functionality for customizing a media provider application running on an ECU of an electric vehicle, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Natively integrated media provider applications typically allow access to only one user account at a time. Consequently, in vehicles with multiple users (e.g., multiple drivers), users usually have to log out of one account and log in to another to switch between accounts for a given media subscription. Furthermore, switching accounts may require a restart of the operating system or the ECU running the natively integrated media provider application. These issues result in significant friction during each driver change. Embodiments of the present disclosure advantageously link each user's personal media accounts to their driver profile. After a media account has been linked, all linked media accounts are automatically available to the driver when a specific driver profile is activated in the vehicle, without the driver having to perform any further actions, such as logging out another user or logging into their own account. 1 Figure 100 is a diagram of an exemplary electric vehicle 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Although the electric vehicle 100 is used to illustrate certain aspects of the present disclosure, the principles described herein can be applied to any type of vehicle with an information and entertainment system (or infotainment system). The electric vehicle 100 includes, among other things, a frame and body 110, an electric energy storage and distribution system, a drive system, a suspension system, a steering system, a control system, auxiliary and accessory systems (such as thermal management, lighting, wireless communication, navigation, etc.), etc. In general, the body 110 can be mounted directly or indirectly to a frame (i.e., body-on-frame construction) or the The body 110 can be formed in one piece with a frame (i.e., a self-supporting structure). The body 110 includes, among other things, a front end 120, a front light bar 122, front turn signals 123, stadium light rings 124, headlights 126, a charging port 130 with a charging port cover 136 that conceals the charging port socket, a driver/passenger compartment or driver/passenger cabin 140, a cargo bed 150, a rear end 160 with taillights 162, a taillight bar, etc. The electric vehicle 100 can be a pickup truck, a sport utility vehicle (SUV) in which the cargo bed 150 is replaced by an extension of the cabin 140, or a sedan in which the cargo bed 150 is replaced by a trunk. In certain embodiments, the electric vehicle can be an electric delivery vehicle, an electric van, etc. The drive system may include, among other things, one or more electronic control units (ECUs), one or more electric drive units (EDUs), front wheels 170, rear wheels 172, etc. The electrical energy storage and distribution system may include, among other things, one or more ECUs, a battery housing with a traction battery, a subsystem for charging the vehicle with a charging port 130, a high-voltage wiring harness con