US-12617311-B2 - Vehicle assistance via one or more content delivery modes

Abstract

Briefly, example methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture may include a vehicle assistance controller to convey content to one or more display devices. The vehicle assistance controller may operate to access a user input device to determine an assistance topic for charging and/or discharging one or more energy storage elements (e.g., one or more batteries) of the vehicle. The vehicle assistance controller may additionally operate to determine a delivery mode for the content, which is applicable to the assistance topic, based on the access of the user input device, and to deliver the content to the one or more display devices via the determined delivery mode.

Inventors

• Sorin Panainte

Assignees

• Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230104

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A vehicle assistance controller to convey content to one or more display devices of, or in communication with, a vehicle, the vehicle assistance controller comprising: at least one memory device to store computer program code; one or more processors communicatively coupled to the at least one memory device, which, responsive to executing the computer program code, are to: access a user input device to determine an assistance topic for charging and/or discharging one or more energy storage elements of the vehicle; determine a delivery mode for the content, which is applicable to the assistance topic, via or based on the access of the user input device, wherein determining the delivery mode comprises determining, based on a user selection associated with the delivery mode, to deliver the content to a display device of the vehicle and a wearable augmented reality display device; and deliver the content to one or more display devices via the determined delivery mode, wherein delivering the content comprises: delivering virtual reality content to the display device of the vehicle, and delivering augmented reality content to the wearable augmented reality display device.
2. 2 . The vehicle assistance controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors communicatively coupled to the at least one memory device are further to: access one or more cloud-based data storage devices to deliver the content applicable to the assistance topic via the determined delivery mode.
3. 3 . The vehicle assistance controller of claim 2 , wherein the one or more processors communicatively coupled to the at least one memory device are further to: overlay additional content responsive to access of the user input device to obtain one or more additional user input signals to refine or update the assistance topic.
4. 4 . The vehicle assistance controller of claim 3 , wherein the overlaid additional content comprises text and or graphics.
5. 5 . The vehicle assistance controller of claim 1 , wherein the user input device comprises a host application executed utilizing a mobile communications device.
6. 6 . The vehicle assistance controller of claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors communicatively coupled to the at least one memory device are additionally to: initiate generation of a message to the mobile communications device to indicate status of charging and/or discharging of the one or more energy storage elements of the vehicle.
7. 7 . The vehicle assistance controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors communicatively coupled to the at least one memory device are additionally to: determine whether the one or more energy storage elements of the vehicle comprise sufficient state of charge (SOC) to route the vehicle from a first charging station to one or more second charging stations.
8. 8 . The vehicle assistance controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors communicatively coupled to the at least one memory device are additionally to: determine whether the assistance topic relates to charging of the one or more energy storage elements of the vehicle or relates to discharging of the one or more energy storage elements of the vehicle to provide power to one or more pieces of external equipment.
9. 9 . The vehicle assistance controller of claim 1 , wherein the user input device comprises a microphone to receive voice signals from a user of the user input device.
10. 10 . A method to convey content to one or more display devices of, or in communication with, a vehicle, the method being performed by one or more processors and comprising: accessing a user input device to determine an assistance topic for charging and/or discharging one or more energy storage elements of the vehicle; determining a delivery mode for the content applicable to the assistance topic via the accessing of the user input device, wherein determining the delivery mode comprises determining, based on a user selection associated with the delivery mode, to deliver the content to a display device of the vehicle or a wearable augmented reality display device; and delivering the content to one or more display devices via the determined delivery mode, wherein delivering the content comprises: delivering virtual reality content to the display device of the vehicle, and delivering augmented reality content to the wearable augmented reality display device.
11. 11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein accessing the user input device further comprises: receiving voice signals, via a microphone, from a user of the user input device.
12. 12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein delivering the content to the one or more display devices further comprises: generating augmented reality images, virtual reality images, or a combination thereof.
13. 13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising: accessing one or more cloud-based data storage devices to deliver the content applicable to the assistance topic responsive to the determined delivery mode.
14. 14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising: initiating generation of a message to a mobile communications device, the message indicating status of a charging and/or discharging operation of the one or more energy storage elements of the vehicle.
15. 15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising: determining whether the assistance topic relates to charging the vehicle or relates to discharging of the vehicle to provide power to one or more pieces of external equipment.
16. 16 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions for causing one or more processors of a vehicle assistance controller to perform at least the following: accessing a user input device to determine an assistance topic for charging and/or discharging one or more energy storage elements of the vehicle; determining a delivery mode for content applicable to the assistance topic via the accessing of the user input device, wherein determining the delivery mode comprises determining, based on a user selection associated with the delivery mode, to deliver the content to a display device of the vehicle or a wearable augmented reality display device; and delivering the content to one or more display devices via the determined delivery mode, wherein delivering the content comprises: delivering virtual reality content to the display device of the vehicle, and delivering content comprising augmented reality content to the wearable augmented reality display device.
17. 17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the program instructions are additionally for causing the one or more processors to: access one or more cloud-based data storage devices to deliver the content applicable to the assistance topic responsive to the determined delivery mode.
18. 18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the program instructions are additionally for causing the one or more processors to: determine whether energy storage elements of the vehicle comprise sufficient state of charge to route the vehicle from a first charging station to one or more second charging stations.

Description

BACKGROUND 1. Field The present disclosure relates generally to delivery of content via augmented reality (AR) devices and/or virtual reality (VR devices), as such devices may be utilized to present vehicle-assistance content to an individual, such as a driver of an electrified vehicle. 2. Information Electrified vehicles have vastly increased in popularity over the past several years at least partially due to the ever-increasing number of features available in these types of vehicles. It may be appreciated that in comparison with the electrified vehicles manufactured, perhaps, just a few years ago, the electrified vehicles of today provide a wide variety of features that were not even conceived of by early designers of such vehicles. Such innovations include solid-state batteries, advanced motor controllers to provide enhanced driving range, autonomous vehicle driving, alternating-current (AC) voltage supplies for powering laptops and tools, and a host of other features. As investments continue to be made in electrified vehicle research and development, the electrified vehicles of tomorrow are likely to include additional features that are expected to make electrified vehicles even more attractive. However, as the features available in electrified vehicles increase, complexity of certain aspects of maintaining an electrified vehicle may also increase. For example, although many electrified vehicles facilitate bidirectional charging, in which energy stored within the batteries of an electrified vehicle may be used to provide primary AC power to power one or more pieces of external equipment, many drivers of electrified vehicles may be unsure as to how to initiate such bidirectional operations. In another example, in view of the availability of various modes for charging electrified vehicles, many drivers may become familiar with some charging operations, such as household charging operations, but may be unfamiliar with other charging options, such as those encountered at commercial (e.g., roadside) charging stations. In addition, since charging current cannot be viewed in the same manner as gasoline or diesel fuel being dispensed into a fuel tank for delivery to an internal combustion engine, it may sometimes be difficult to determine whether an electric current is actually conducting between, for example, electrified vehicle supply equipment and the batteries of the electrified vehicle. Thus, simplifying electrified vehicle charging operations, and/or providing instructions to electrified vehicle drivers and/or operators, continues to be an active area of investigation. SUMMARY One general aspect includes a vehicle assistance controller to convey content to one or more display devices of, or in communication with, a vehicle. The vehicle assistance controller may include at least one memory device to store computer program code and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the at least one memory device, which, responsive to executing the computer program code, access a user input device to determine an assistance topic for charging and/or discharging one or more energy storage elements of the vehicle. The vehicle assistance controller may additionally determine a delivery mode for the content, which is applicable to the assistance topic, via or based on the access of the user input device. The vehicle assistance controller may also operate to deliver the content to the one or more display devices via the determined delivery mode. Other embodiments of this aspect include one or more corresponding methods, apparatuses, and computer program instructions encoded on one or more computer storage devices, each configured to perform the operations of the one or more methods. In particular embodiments, the one or more processors communicatively coupled to the at least one memory device are further to access one or more cloud-based data storage devices to deliver the content applicable to the assistance topic via the determined delivery mode. In particular embodiments, the one or more display devices includes an augmented reality display device. In particular embodiments, the one or more display devices includes a virtual reality display device. In particular embodiments, the one or more processors communicatively coupled to the at least one memory device are further to overlay additional content responsive to access of the user input device to obtain one or more additional user input signals to refine or update the assistance topic. In particular embodiments, the overlaid content includes text and or graphics. In particular embodiments, the user input device includes a host application executed utilizing a mobile communications device. In particular embodiments, the one or more processors communicatively coupled to the at least one memory device are additionally to initiate generation of a message to the mobile communications device to indicate status of charging and/or discharging of the one or more energy