Systems and methods for teaching control button functionality to an occupant of a vehicle

A system for teaching control button functionality to an occupant of a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a plurality of adjustable vehicle components;
• an audio device configured to receive voice activation commands from the occupant;
• a plurality of control buttons each configured to be placed in at least (i) a first state in which actuation by the occupant causes an adjustment of at least one adjustable vehicle component of the plurality of adjustable vehicle components, and (ii) a second state in which actuation by the occupant causes at least one message relating to the at least one adjustable vehicle component to be output to the occupant;
• and
• a controller programmed to
• (i) upon receipt of an audible first trigger by the audio device from the occupant, (a) determine whether the audible first trigger received by the audio device meets a first threshold and a second threshold, (b) cause a first response, requesting that the audible first trigger be repeated, to be output from the audio device upon determining that the audible first trigger does not meet the first threshold, and (c) cause a second response, requesting that the audible first trigger be rephrased, to be output from the audio device upon determining that the audible first trigger does not meet the second threshold,
• (ii) upon determining that the audible first trigger meets the first threshold and the second threshold, disable the plurality of control buttons by placing the control buttons in the second state and request that the occupant press a control button of the plurality of control buttons,
• (iii) upon detection of the occupant pressing the control button, cause output of a first message including a name of the at least one adjustable vehicle component corresponding to the control button, which is used for future voice activation of the at least one adjustable vehicle component via the audio device without pressing the control button, and a current configuration of the at least one adjustable vehicle component,
• (iv) upon output of the first message, request the occupant to provide one of a plurality of alternative audible second triggers,
• (v) upon reception of one alternative audible second trigger of the plurality of alternative audible second triggers, cause output of a second message providing a functionality of the at least one adjustable vehicle component corresponding to the control button, the second message different from the first message, and
• (vi) upon reception of a different alternative audible second trigger of the plurality of alternative audible second triggers, cause the adjustment to the at least one adjustable vehicle component corresponding to the control button.

A method of teaching control button functionality to vehicle occupants, the method comprising:

• receiving an audible first trigger from an occupant of a vehicle having a plurality of control buttons each configured to cause an adjustment of at least one adjustable vehicle component upon actuation by the occupant;
• upon receipt of the audible first trigger from the occupant, determining that the audible first trigger does or does not meet a first threshold and a second threshold, and upon such determination
• causing a first response, requesting that the audible first trigger be repeated, to be output when it is determined that the audible first trigger does not meet the first threshold,
• causing a second response, requesting that the audible first trigger be rephrased, to be output when it is determined that the audible first trigger does not meet the second threshold, and
• when it is determined that the audible first trigger meets the first threshold and the second threshold, (i) disabling the plurality of control buttons so that actuation of a control button of the plurality of control buttons causes an output of at least one message relating to the at least one adjustable vehicle component corresponding to the control button instead of causing the adjustment of the at least one adjustable vehicle component, and (ii) requesting that the occupant press a control button of the plurality of control buttons;
• detecting the occupant pressing the control button, and upon detection of the occupant pressing the control button, causing output of a first message including (i) a name of the at least one adjustable vehicle component corresponding to the control button, which is used for future voice activation of the at least one adjustable vehicle component via an audio device without pressing the control button, and (ii) a current configuration of the at least one adjustable vehicle component;
• and
• upon output of the first message, requesting the occupant to provide one of a plurality of alternative audible second triggers;
• receiving one alternative audible second trigger of the plurality of audible second triggers, and upon reception of the one alternative audible second trigger of the plurality of alternative audible second triggers, causing output of a second message providing a functionality of the at least one adjustable vehicle component corresponding to the control button to be output to the occupant, the second message different from the first message;
• and
• receiving a different alternative audible second trigger of the plurality of audible second triggers, and upon reception of the different alternative audible second trigger of the plurality of alternative audible second triggers, causing the adjustment to the at least one adjustable vehicle component corresponding to the control button.