System and method for applying vehicle settings in a vehicle

• US 10,035,516 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2017
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sinaguinan, Justin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Antonucci, Anne M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stroud, James E
• Application Number:
  US15/468,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20170197631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 701 36
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0809 Driver authorisation; Driver identity check
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/06 Ignition switch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/00 Output or target parameters relating to a particular sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/00 Output or target parameters relating to overall vehicle dynamics
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2754/00 Output or target parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4451 User profiles; Roaming

Abstract

A method and system for applying vehicle settings to a vehicle that include storing at least one user settings profile on a plurality of components associated with the vehicle based on a computing device that is used to create or update the at least one user settings profile. The system and method also include determining if the at least one user settings profile has been updated since a last ignition cycle of the vehicle. The system and method further include selecting the at least one user settings profile to be applied to control a vehicle system of the vehicle from at least one component of the plurality of components based on if the at least one user settings profile has been updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle and on a connection of at least: a first portable device and a second portable device to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for applying vehicle settings to a vehicle comprising:

storing at least one user settings profile on at least one of a plurality of components associated with the vehicle based on a computing device that is used to create or update the at least one user settings profile, wherein the at least one of the plurality of components include a head unit of the vehicle and a telematics control unit of the vehicle, wherein the at least one user settings profile includes at least one of;

a user settings profile that has been updated since a last ignition cycle of the vehicle and a user settings profile that has been created or updated prior to the last ignition cycle of the vehicle;

determining if the at least one user settings profile stored on the at least one of the plurality of components has been updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle, wherein determining if the at least one user settings profile has been updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle includes evaluating the at least one user settings profile stored on the at least one of the plurality of components to determine if it matches a version of at least one user settings profile that is stored on a central user settings data repository;

executing the at least one user settings profile from the head unit, the telematics control unit, or the central user settings data repository based on if the at least one user settings profile has been updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle and on a connection of at least;

a first portable device and a second portable device to the vehicle; and

controlling at least one vehicle system of the vehicle, wherein the at least one vehicle system is controlled based on the execution of the at least one user settings profile.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein storing the at least one user settings profile includes determining that the at least one user settings profile is created or updated on the first portable device, wherein the at least one user settings profile is associated to a device identification of the first portable device, wherein the first portable device includes a mobile phone.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein storing the at least one user settings profile includes determining if an ignition switch of the vehicle is enabled and the first portable device is connected to the vehicle and storing the at least one user settings profile on the head unit and the central user settings data repository, wherein the at least one user settings profile is stored on the telematics control unit and the central user settings data repository when it is determined that the ignition switch of the vehicle is disabled and the first portable device is not connected to the vehicle.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein storing the at least one user settings profile includes determining that the at least one user settings profile is created on the head unit, wherein the at least one user settings profile is associated to at least one of:

the device identification of the first portable device and a device identification of the second portable device, wherein the second portable device includes a smart entry device, wherein the at least one user settings profile is stored on the head unit and the central user settings data repository.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining if the at least one user settings profile has been updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle includes comparing the version of the at least one user settings profile stored on the central user settings data repository with a version of the at least one user settings profile stored on the head unit and determining if the at least one user settings profile is at least one of:

an updated user settings profile that is stored on the central user settings data repository that has been created or updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle, and a pre-existing user settings profile that is stored on the head unit that has been created or updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein executing the at least one user settings profile includes determining that the first portable device is connected to the vehicle based on receiving a device identification associated with the first portable device, wherein the updated user settings profile associated with the device identification of the first portable device that is stored on the central user settings repository is executed when it is determined that the pre-existing user settings profile has been created or updated since it was stored on the head unit, otherwise the pre-existing user settings profile associated with the device identification of the first portable device that is stored on the head unit is executed.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining if the at least one user settings profile has been updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle includes comparing a version of the at least one user settings profile stored on the telematics control unit with the version of the at least one user settings profile stored on the central user settings data repository and determining if the at least one user settings profile is at least one of:

an updated user settings profile that is stored on the central user settings data repository that has been created or updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle, and a pre-existing user settings profile that has been created or updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein executing the at least one user settings profile includes determining that the first portable device is connected to the vehicle based on receiving the device identification associated with the first portable device, wherein the updated user settings profile associated with the device identification of the first portable device that is stored on the central user settings repository is executed when it is determined that the pre-existing user settings profile has been created or updated since it was stored on the telematics control unit, otherwise the pre-existing user settings profile associated with the device identification of the first portable device that is stored on the telematics control unit is executed.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein executing the at least one user settings profile includes determining that the second portable device is connected to the vehicle based on receiving a device identification associated with the second portable device and determining that the first portable device is not connected to the vehicle, wherein the at least one user settings profile that is executed includes at least one of:

an updated user settings profile associated with the device identification of the second portable device that is stored on the central user settings data repository and a pre-existing user settings profile associated with the device identification of the second portable device that is stored on the head unit, wherein the updated user settings profile is executed that is associated with the device identification of the second portable device when it is determined that the pre-existing user settings profile has been created or updated since it was stored on the head unit, otherwise the pre-existing user settings profile associated with the device identification of the second portable device is executed.

10. A system for applying vehicle settings to a vehicle comprising:

a memory storing instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to;

store at least one user settings profile on at least one of a plurality of components associated with the vehicle based on a computing device that is used to create or update the at least one user settings profile, wherein the at least one of the plurality of components include a head unit of the vehicle and a telematics control unit of the vehicle, wherein the at least one user settings profile includes at least one of;

a user settings profile that has been updated since a last ignition cycle of the vehicle and a user settings profile that has been created or updated prior to the last ignition cycle of the vehicle;

determine if the at least one user settings profile stored on the at least one of the plurality of components has been updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle, wherein determining if the at least one user settings profile has been updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle includes evaluating the at least one user settings profile stored on the at least one of the plurality of components to determine if it matches a version of at least one user settings profile that is stored on a central user settings data repository;

execute the at least one user settings profile from the head unit, the telematics control unit, or the central user settings data repository based on if the at least one user settings profile has been updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle and on a connection of at least;

a first portable device and a second portable device to the vehicle; and

control the at least one vehicle system of the vehicle, wherein the at least one vehicle system is controlled based on the execution of the at least one user settings profile.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein storing the at least one user settings profile includes determining that the at least one user settings profile is created or updated on the first portable device, wherein the at least one user settings profile is associated to a device identification of the first portable device, wherein the first portable device includes a mobile phone.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein storing the at least one user settings profile includes determining if an ignition switch of the vehicle is enabled and the first portable device is connected to the vehicle and storing the at least one user settings profile on the head unit and the central user settings data repository, wherein the at least one user settings profile is stored on the telematics control unit and the central user settings data repository when it is determined that the ignition switch of the vehicle is disabled and the first portable device is not connected to the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein storing the at least one user settings profile includes determining that the at least one user settings profile is created on the head unit, wherein the at least one user settings profile is associated to at least one of:

the device identification of the first portable device and a device identification of the second portable device, wherein the second portable device includes a smart entry device, wherein the at least one user settings profile is stored on the head unit and the central user settings data repository.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein determining if the at least one user settings profile has been updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle includes comparing the version of the at least one user settings profile stored on the central user settings data repository with a version of the at least one user settings profile stored on the head unit and determining if the at least one user settings profile is at least one of:

an updated user settings profile that is stored on the central user settings data repository that has been created or updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle, and a pre-existing user settings profile that is stored on the head unit that has been created or updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein executing the at least one user settings profile includes determining that the first portable device is connected to the vehicle based on receiving a device identification associated with the first portable device, wherein the updated user settings profile associated with the device identification of the first portable device that is stored on the central user settings repository is executed when it is determined that the pre-existing user settings profile has been created or updated since it was stored on the head unit, otherwise the pre-existing user settings profile associated with the device identification of the first portable device that is stored on the head unit is executed.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein determining if the at least one user settings profile has been updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle includes comparing a version of the at least one user settings profile stored on the telematics control unit with the version of the at least one user settings profile stored on the central user settings data repository and determining if the at least one user settings profile is at least one of:

an updated user settings profile that is stored on the central user settings data repository that has been created or updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle, and a pre-existing user settings profile that has been created or updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein executing the at least one user settings profile includes determining that the first portable device is connected to the vehicle based on receiving the device identification associated with the first portable device, wherein the updated user settings profile associated with the device identification of the first portable device that is stored on the central user settings repository is executed when it is determined that the pre-existing user settings profile has been created or updated since it was stored on the telematics control unit, otherwise the pre-existing user settings profile associated with the device identification of the first portable device that is stored on the telematics control unit is executed.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein executing the at least one user settings profile includes determining that the second portable device is connected to the vehicle based on receiving a device identification associated with the second portable device and determining that the first portable device is not connected to the vehicle, wherein the at least one user settings profile that is executed includes at least one of:

an updated user settings profile associated with the device identification of the second portable device that is stored on the central user settings data repository and a pre-existing user settings profile associated with the device identification of the second portable device that is stored on the head unit, wherein the updated user settings profile is executed that is associated with the device identification of the second portable device when it is determined that the pre-existing user settings profile has been created or updated since it was stored on the head unit, otherwise the pre-existing user settings profile associated with the device identification of the second portable device is executed.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, which includes at least a processor, causes the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

storing at least one user settings profile on at least one of a plurality of components associated with a vehicle based on a computing device that is used to create or update the at least one user settings profile, wherein the at least one of the plurality of components include a head unit of the vehicle and a telematics control unit of the vehicle, wherein the at least one user settings profile includes at least one of;

a user settings profile that has been updated since a last ignition cycle of the vehicle and a user settings profile that has been created or updated prior to the last ignition cycle of the vehicle;

determining if the at least one user settings profile stored on the at least one of the plurality of components has been updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle, wherein determining if the at least one user settings profile has been updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle includes evaluating the at least one user settings profile stored on the at least one of the plurality of components to determine if it matches a version of at least one user settings profile that is stored on a central user settings data repository;

executing the at least one user settings profile from the head unit, the telematics control unit, or the central user settings data repository based on if the at least one user settings profile has been updated since the last ignition cycle of the vehicle and on a connection of at least;

a first portable device and a second portable device to the vehicle; and

controlling the at least one vehicle system of the vehicle, wherein the at least one vehicle system is controlled based on the execution of the at least one user settings profile.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein executing the at least one user settings profile to control the at least one vehicle system includes determining that the first portable device is connected to the vehicle based on receiving a device identification associated with the first portable device, wherein an updated user settings profile associated with the device identification of the first portable device that is stored on the central user settings repository is executed when it is determined that a pre-existing user settings profile has been created or updated since it was stored on the head unit or the telematics control unit, otherwise the pre-existing user settings profile associated with the device identification of the first portable device that is stored on at least one of:

the head unit and the telematics control unit is executed.