Systems and methods for altering an in-vehicle presentation

• US 10,148,374 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Helm, Sean L., Pierfelice, Jeffery E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Yogeshkumar
• Application Number:
  US13/453,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20130279308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,416 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information

Abstract

Systems and methods for altering an in-vehicle presentation are provided. One embodiment includes receiving a media signal at a vehicle that includes content, providing an in-vehicle presentation of the content for viewing as the media signal is being received, and determining a triggering action to alter output of the in-vehicle presentation in a predetermined manner. Some embodiments include altering the in-vehicle presentation in the predetermined manner in response to receiving the triggering action, beginning recording of the content in response to altering the in-vehicle presentation, and providing an option to store the content that is being recorded.

Claims

1. A method for altering an in-vehicle presentation comprising:

providing a user option for a user of a vehicle to identify a new geographic location, such that after the new geographic location has been identified and the vehicle reaches the new geographic location, the vehicle triggers an alteration to an in-vehicle presentation, based on predetermined criteria;

receiving user input to the user option to identify the new geographic location for altering the in-vehicle presentation when the vehicle reaches the new geographic location;

determining a vehicle location of the vehicle;

receiving a media signal at the vehicle, the media signal including content;

providing the in-vehicle presentation of the content for viewing as the media signal is being received;

determining whether a local noise ordinance exists in the vehicle location;

determining whether the vehicle location is the new geographic location identified by the user;

in response to determining that the vehicle location is the new geographic location identified by the user, adjusting the in-vehicle presentation according to a user-defined selection;

in response to determining that the local noise ordinance exists in the vehicle location, determining whether a volume of the in-vehicle presentation violates the local noise ordinance;

in response to determining that the volume violates the local noise ordinance, altering the in-vehicle presentation according to the user-defined selection such that the in-vehicle presentation will comply with the local noise ordinance, wherein altering the in-vehicle presentation includes pausing playback of the in-vehicle presentation;

in response to altering the in-vehicle presentation, beginning recording of the content;

providing an option to store the content that is being recorded; and

in response to a determination that the vehicle has left the vehicle location, resuming playback of the in-vehicle presentation at a point the in-vehicle presentation was paused and providing an option to playback the in-vehicle presentation at a predetermined increased speed to allow the user to perceive the in-vehicle presentation as well as return the in-vehicle presentation to a point such that the in-vehicle presentation may be provided at a normal playback speed as the media signal is being received.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of the following:

lowering a maximum volume level of the in-vehicle presentation, adjusting a balance of speaker volume in the vehicle, and adjusting an equalizer setting to comply with the local noise ordinance.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to receiving an indication to store the content that is being recorded, store the content for later retrieval by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising in response to altering the in-vehicle presentation, freezing an in-vehicle user interface associated with the in-vehicle presentation.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an option to store at least a portion of the in-vehicle presentation at a point in time after altering the in-vehicle presentation.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user option to define a potential indication for altering the in-vehicle presentation.

7. A system for altering an in-vehicle presentation, comprising:

a memory component that stores logic that, when executed by the system, causes the system to perform at least the following;

determine a location of a vehicle;

provide a user option for a user to identify a new geographic location, such that when the vehicle reaches the new geographic location, the vehicle triggers an alteration to an in-vehicle presentation, based on predetermined criteria;

receive user input to the user option to identify the new geographic location for altering the in-vehicle presentation when the vehicle reaches the new geographic location;

receive a media signal for presentation in the vehicle, the media signal including recorded content;

provide an in-vehicle presentation of the recorded content for viewing as the media signal is being received;

determine whether a local noise ordinance exists in the vehicle location;

determine whether the vehicle location is the new geographic identified by the user;

in response to determining at least one of the following;

that the local noise ordinance exists in the vehicle location and that the vehicle location is the new geographic location identified by the user, determine whether a volume of the in-vehicle presentation violates the local noise ordinance;

in response to determining that the volume violates the local noise ordinance, pause the in-vehicle presentation and begin recording the recorded content;

in response to determining that the vehicle has left the vehicle location, resume playback of the in-vehicle presentation at a point the in-vehicle presentation was paused; and

provide an option to playback the in-vehicle presentation at a faster pace than an original pace of in-vehicle presentation until the playback reaches an end of the recorded content, wherein recording continues until the playback reaches the end of the recorded content.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the logic further causes the system to perform at least the following:

provide an option to store the recorded content;

receive an user indication to store the recorded content; and

store the recorded content for later retrieval, wherein storing the recorded content comprises at least one of the following;

storing the recorded content locally and storing the recorded content remotely.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the logic further causes the system to provide an option to playback the recorded content that has been stored.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the logic further causes the system to provide a user interface to define a first triggering action and a second triggering action.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein in response to determining that the local noise ordinance does not exist in the vehicle location, the logic further causes the system to determine whether a vehicle user has previously identified the vehicle location as a location for pausing the in-vehicle presentation.

12. A vehicle for altering an-in-vehicle presentation comprising:

an in-vehicle audio system; and

a vehicle computing device that stores logic that, when executed by the vehicle computing device, causes the vehicle computing device to perform at least the following;

provide a user option for a user to identify a new geographic location, such that when the vehicle reaches the new geographic location, the vehicle triggers an alteration to an in-vehicle presentation, based on predetermined criteria;

receive user input to the user option to identify the new geographic location for altering the in-vehicle presentation when the vehicle reaches the new geographic location;

receive a media signal, the media signal including content;

provide an in-vehicle presentation of the content for viewing, as the media signal is being received;

determine a vehicle location;

determine whether a local noise ordinance exists in the vehicle location;

determine whether the vehicle location is the new geographic location identified by the user;

in response to determining that the local noise ordinance exists, determine a maximum audio setting, based on the local noise ordinance;

in response to determining at least one of the following;

that the local noise ordinance exists in the vehicle location and that he vehicle location is the new geographic identified by the user, determine whether a volume of the in-vehicle presentation exceeds the maximum audio setting;

in response to determining that the volume exceeds the maximum audio setting, pause playback of the in-vehicle presentation, determine whether a current volume is greater than the maximum audio setting, and in response to determining that the current volume is greater than the maximum audio setting, lower the current volume to the maximum audio setting; and

in response to determining that the vehicle has left the vehicle location, resume playback of the in-vehicle presentation at a point where the in-vehicle presentation was paused, and provide an option to playback the in-vehicle presentation at a predetermined increased speed to allow the user to perceive the in-vehicle presentation as well as return the in-vehicle presentation to a point such that the in-vehicle presentation may be provided at a normal playback speed as the media signal is being received.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein in response to determining that the local noise ordinance does not exist in the vehicle location, the logic further causes the vehicle computing device to determine whether a vehicle user has previously identified the vehicle location as a location for pausing the in-vehicle presentation.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the logic further causes the vehicle computing device to provide a user option to define a potential indication for altering the in-vehicle presentation.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein in response to altering the in-vehicle presentation, the logic further causes the vehicle computing device to freeze an in-vehicle user interface associated with the presentation.