Interchangeable rear seat infotainment system

• US 10,063,904 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Morales, Mike, Groner, Robb
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierorazio, Michael B
• Application Number:
  US15/395,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20170195708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 725 25, 725 75
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43635 HDMI
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite

Abstract

A rear seat entertainment system includes an access point and a second housing. The access point includes a first screen and input/output ports. The access point is included in a first housing. The second housing is separate from the first housing and includes a second screen. The access point is configured to display first content on the first screen and stream the first content displayed on the first screen to the second housing so that the first content is displayed on the first and second screens. The access point is further configured to receive second content from a mobile device, display the second content on the first screen and stream the second content displayed on the first screen to the second housing so that the second content is displayed on the first and second screens.

Claims

1. A rear seat entertainment system, comprising:

a first access point, wherein the first access point includes a first display screen and a plurality of input/output ports, wherein the first access point is included in a first housing, wherein the first housing is configured to mount to a first vehicle seat; and

a second housing separate from the first housing, wherein the second housing includes a second display screen housing is configured to mount to a second vehicle seat,

wherein the first access point is configured to display first content on the first display screen and stream the first content displayed on the first display screen to the second housing so that the first content is simultaneously displayed on the first and second display screens,

wherein the first access point is further configured to receive second content from a first mobile device, display the second content on the first display screen and stream the second content displayed on the first display screen to the second housing so that the second content is simultaneously displayed on the first and second display screens,

wherein the first access point is configured to create and control a wireless local area network and be switched between an access point mode and a client mode by a user via a settings menu accessible in a graphical user interface on the first display screen,

wherein the first access point includes a context caster configured in firmware on a system component, the content caster being a source input represented and selectable on source input locations in the graphical user interface, the content caster configured to stream the second content to the second housing in the access point mode and the client mode,

wherein the content caster is configured, to perform group communication using a real-time transport protocol and permit more than two devices to source content therefrom if the more than two devices are communicably coupled to the first access point through the wireless local area network.

2. The rear seat entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the first and second housings are each configured to be disposed inside a vehicle seat headrest.

3. The rear seat entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input/output ports include a high-definition multimedia. interface (HDMI) port, a universal serial bus (USB) port, an analog audio output port and a secure digital (SD) card port.

4. The rear seat entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the first access point further includes a digital. video disc (DVD) player.

5. The rear seat entertainment system of claim 1, further comprising an infrared remote control.

6. The rear seat entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the first access point is further configured to stream the first content displayed on the first display screen to the first mobile device so that the first content is simultaneously displayed on the first display screen, and a third display screen of the first mobile device.

7. The rear seat entertainment system of claim 6, wherein the first access point is further configured to stream the first content displayed on the first display screen to a second mobile device so that the first content is simultaneously displayed on the first display screen, the third display screen of the first mobile device, and a fourth display screen of the second mobile device.

8. The rear seat entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the first mobile device is a smartphone or a tablet.

9. The rear seat entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the second housing includes a second access point, wherein the second access point is configured to stream third content to a second mobile device so that the third content is displayed on a third display screen of the second mobile device.

10. A vehicle entertainment system, comprising:

a master device, the master device including a first display screen and a plurality of input/output ports; and

a first satellite device, the first satellite device including a second display screen,

wherein the master device is configured to receive a hardwired connection via one of the plurality of input/output ports from a first portable device, receive first video content from the first portable device through the hardwired connection, display the first video content on the first display screen and stream the first video content to the second display screen,

wherein the master device is further configured to wirelessly stream the first video content to a second mobile device,

wherein the master device is further configured to create and control a wireless local area network and be switched between an access point mode and a client mode by a user via a settings menu accessible in a graphical user interface on the first display screen,

wherein the master device includes content caster configured in firmware on a system component, the content caster being a source input represented and selectable on source input locations in the graphical user interface, the content caster configured to stream the first video content to the second mobile device in the access point mode and the client mode,

wherein the content caster is configured to perform group communication using a real-time transport protocol and permit more than two devices to source content therefrom if the more than two devices are communicably coupled to the master device through the wireless local area network.

11. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the master device and the satellite device are each configured to be disposed inside a vehicle seat headrest.

12. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the master device and the first satellite device are each configured to be mounted to a vehicle seat.

13. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the master device is further configured to receive second video content via the wireless local area network and wirelessly stream the second video content to the first mobile device or the second mobile device.

14. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 10, wherein content streaming operations of the master device are controllable with the first or second mobile devices.

15. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the wireless local area network is a dedicated in-car wireless network.

16. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first mobile device and the second mobile device is a smartphone or a tablet.

17. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the master device further includes a plurality of input/output ports, wherein the plurality of input/output ports include a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a universal serial bus (USB) port, an analog audio output port and a secure digital (SD) card port.

18. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the master device further includes a digital video disc (DVD) player.

19. The vehicle entertainment system of claim 10, further comprising a second satellite device configured to play video content independent of video content played on the first satellite device or the master device.