Information system and process in a vehicle

An information system for communicating vehicle related information to a vehicle, occupant, said information system comprising:

• a plurality of information sources for outputting respective associated information signals in a form that is intelligible to the vehicle occupant, when associated information-generation conditions are met;
• wherein
• the plurality of information sources comprises at least one vehicle-control information source for outputting an associated vehicle-control information signal, and at least one other information source for outputting a non-vehicle-control-related information signal;
• and
• an information management device controls information signal outputs of the information sources according to a predefinable prioritization scheme which comprises a plurality of urgency levels;
• each of said information sources is assigned to a respective urgency level according to a permissible vehicle occupant response time to information signals generated thereby;
• said plurality of urgency levels includes one primary urgency level with the highest priority, for outputting at least the at least one vehicle-control information signal, and at least one secondary urgency level for outputting at least the at least one non-vehicle-control information signal;
• and
• the information management device suppresses outputting of non-vehicle-control information items of the at least one secondary urgency level, or permits them only with reduced intensity, as long as a vehicle-control information signal of the primary urgency level is output.

A process for controlling output of signal information from a vehicle information system having a plurality of information sources for communicating information concerning status or required action with regard to vehicle operating systems, comprising:

• grouping said information sources into a plurality of urgency levels according to a permissible vehicle occupant response time to information signals generated thereby;
• within each urgency levels arranging said information source for outputting information signals according to a predetermined prioritization;
• outputting information signals from said information sources first from a highest urgency level grouping sequentially according to said prioritization and subsequently from lower urgency level groupings;
• and
• suppressing or de-emphasizing information signals of lower priority during output of information signals from a higher priority system.