Finding your way, while driving in unfamiliar areas, can often lead to distraction and anxiety. Now, there is a button on the car, which may provide great assistance. Behind it is a complex but orderly car audio control system.
How i-Call provides navigation assistance
When you are unfamiliar with driving on urban or rural roads, and you are not sure which direction to go to at the next intersection, you can press the button marked i-Call in the car. With the help of the built-in mobile network, the system will automatically connect to the call center location set up by the automobile manufacturer or service provider. A real agent will answer your call and inquire about your specific needs.
You can only verbally state the place you want to go to, such as "the People's Hospital in XX District" or "the gas station nearby". The agent will query the precise location in his computer system and send the planned navigation route directly to your car screen. During the entire process, your hands do not have to leave the steering wheel, and your eyes do not have to leave the road for a long time. The operation can be completed by voice communication.
The meaning of the audio focus mechanism
Modern cars have many functions that make sounds, such as telephone, music, and navigation voice. In order to prevent these sounds from sounding together and causing confusion, the in-car system introduces the "audio focus" management rule. You can think of it as a "right to speak". Only one function can obtain it at the same time and carry out clear voice broadcasts or calls.
The function that obtains focus will work according to the normal volume. At this time, other applications that are making sounds, such as the song or podcast that is playing at the moment, will be automatically paused by the system or reduce their volume to a very low value, and then become background sound. This mechanism is mandatory and is controlled by the bottom layer of the system. The purpose of this is to ensure that the most critical driving information can be clearly heard by the driver.
Functional differences between E-Call and B-Call
A system that acts as a lifeline in emergencies is called E-Call. When a serious collision causes the airbag to deploy, the system will automatically activate the E-Call function. It will use the cellular network to send a call to the public emergency rescue platform. At the same time, it will also transmit information such as the vehicle's precise GPS location, model, and collision time, so that rescue forces can arrive quickly.
B-Call is more like a vehicle service hotline with convenient features. Its buttons are usually placed in front of the rearview mirror in the car or in the roof control area. If you need roadside assistance, such as when the vehicle has a flat tire or the battery is discharged and cannot be started, you can manually press the B-Call button. After pressing, it will connect with the manufacturer's service backend, so that you can directly tell the customer service personnel about the vehicle's faults and then make an appointment for rescue services.
Daily use of multimedia functions
Nowadays, some of the standard functions of new cars are Bluetooth phone calls and Bluetooth music. You must first pair your mobile phone with the car system. After success, the audio on your mobile phone can be played through the car audio every time you get in the car. When answering an incoming call, you usually just press the answer button on the steering wheel, and the call sound will be transmitted through the car microphone and speakers.
Another audio input method is provided by USB Music. A USB flash drive containing audio files in MP3 and other formats is inserted into the car's USB interface, and the car system can read and play the contents. Compared with Bluetooth wireless transmission, the sound quality of USB playback is generally more stable and does not consume the battery of the mobile phone. It is a common choice for enjoying high-quality music during long-distance driving.
Functional conflicts and priorities
During actual driving, these functions may "crash". For example, if you are listening to music via Bluetooth and manually turn on i-Call at this time, the music will be paused immediately according to the audio focus rules. The purpose is to ensure that your call with the artificial agent is clear and interference-free. After the call is completed, the music will generally resume playback from the paused position.
The highest priority is given to the emergency function. Once the vehicle triggers E-Call on its own, at that time, either you are listening to music or you are making a Bluetooth call, all sounds will be forcibly interrupted to ensure that the emergency call channel is completely open. This kind of design logic puts driving safety above entertainment functions. This is the key principle of safety design of automotive electronic systems.
Security design and user choice
In-vehicle audio focus management, which focuses on reducing driver distraction, has shown that manual manipulation of the screen or mobile phone while driving will significantly increase the risk of accidents. Voice service forms such as i-Call allow drivers to obtain the information they need through verbal communication without the use of hand operations, thereby minimizing the burden on vision and hands.
In the user role, it is beneficial to know the characteristics and priorities of these functions. Before embarking on a long trip, prepare a song list with USB. When needed at complex intersections, you can use i-Call with peace of mind and no need to worry about missing music. During real emergencies, trust and rely on the automated E-Call system. Properly used, driving can be both safe and convenient.
What do you use most often in the car, Bluetooth music, USB music, or this type of calling service? During actual use, have you ever encountered any type of audio conflicts that caused you to feel inconvenienced? Feel free to share your experiences and opinions in the comment area. If you find this article helpful, please give it a thumbs up.
